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OF  THE 


United  Brethren  Church 


ILLUSTRATED 


TREATING  OF  THE  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH  IN 
CUMBERLAND,  LANCASTER.  YORK  AND  LEBANON 
COUNTIES,    PENNSYLVANIA,  AND   GIVING 
THE  HISTORY  OF  THE  DENOMINA- 
TION   IN   THE   ORIGINAL 
TERRITORY 


BY 

REV.  DANIEL  EBERLY,  A.M.,  D.D. 

REV.  ISAIAH  H.  ALBRIGHT,  A.M.,  Ph.D. 

REV.  C.  I.  B.  BRANE,  A.M.,  D.D. 


Press  of 

Behney  &  Bright,  Book  and  Commercial  Printers 

610  Washington  Street,  Reading,  Pa. 


DEDICATION 

TO 

(Eljristian  ^elttcamcr 

THE  THIRD  BISHOP  AND  UNMATCHED  MISSIONARY 

OF  THE  UNITED  BRETHREN  CHURCH 

THIS  BOOK  IS 

AFFECTIONATELY  DEDICATED 


^it  ^ppt^cticitiitn 


ANDMARK  History  of  the  United  Brethren  Church  is  a 
credit  to  the  hearts  and  painstaking  efforts  of  its  well 
known  authors.  Their  enthusiastic  denominational 
attachments,  their  familiarity  w^ith  the  places  of  w^hich 
they  write,  and  their  command  of  the  best  sources  of  information 
give  a  w^arm  glow  to  their  narrative,  and  command  the  confidence 
of  the  reader.  The  amount  of  incident  and  the  number  of  illus- 
trations w^hich,  after  the  leveling  and  obliterating  processes  of  scores 
of  years  they  are  able  to  give,  are  a  matter  of  surprise. 

This  volume  will  appeal  strongly  to  various  classes  of  readers. 
First,  those  whose  birth  or  associations  connect  them  closely  w^ith 
the  older  parts  of  the  United  Brethren  Church  will  welcome  the 
aid  which  it  affords  in  making  their  knowledge  more  full  and  life- 
like. Then,  those  who  have  had  little  opportunity  for  acquaintance 
with  the  beginnings  of  the  Church  will  find  in  this  book  that  which 
will  make  more  real  to  them  the  providence  of  God  in  raising  up 
a  new  people  for  the  advancement  of  his  kingdom.  Then  again, 
the  future  historian  will  find  nothing  more  to  his  purpose  than  such 
definite  facts  and  self-illuminating  examples  as  are  found  in  the 
sketches  given  in  this  "Landmark  History." 

A.  W.  DRURY. 

Bonebrake  Theological  Seminary 

Dayton,  Ohio 
Easter,  1911 


%\}c  3?irst  Itori 


s?/ 

^^ 

w 

iM 

W/ii^ 

if'#'^  w 

^S:^ 

5&=^^( 

LTHOUGH  I  am  not  the  sole  author  of  this  volume  I 
am  asked  to  stand  at  the  door  and  welcome  the  reader 
to  the  enjoyment  of  its  contents,  and  even  suggest 
vv^hat  he  may  expect,  and  also  where  and  how^  to  find 
it.  And  so,  before  my  pen  is  quite  dry,  and  while  the  reader's  eye 
lingers  on  the  title  page,  I  wish  to  greet  and  congratulate  all  who 
enter  upon  its  perusal,  because  of  the  good  things  prepared  for 
them  by  those  who  are  associated  with  me  in  its  authorship. 
Owing  to  the  cost  of  culling  from  meager  records  and  uncertain 
traditions  the  pioneer  events  of  our  history,  to  which  these  pages 
are  devoted,  our  only  compensation  will  be  the  reader's  apprecia- 
tion of  our  findings,  the  pleasure  we  experienced  in  gathering  them, 
and  in  the  value  of  their  preservation  to  succeeding  generations, 
w^hen  our  present  modest  membership  shall  have  mounted  up  into 
millions. 

We  deeply  regret  the  death  of  Doctor  Eberly,  over  whose 
departure  we  experience  a  sense  of  personal  bereavement ;  but  we 
are  glad  to  have  insisted,  contrary  to  his  wish  and  judgment,  that 
his  Lectures  and  Notes  should  form  the  first  part  of  the  book.  But 
for  that  insistence,  which  led  to  the  immediate  preparation  of  his 
matter,  all  of  which  was  in  type  before  death  came,  his  valuable 
contribution  to  this  volume  w^ould  have  been  lost  to  the  Church. 
His  Lectures  relate  to  the  origin  and  early  history  of  the  United 
Brethren  Church  in  the  eastern  part  of  Cumberland  County,  Pa., 
including  that  which  he  knew  and  participated  in  from  1 840  to 
I860. 

Dr.  Albright's  chapters  follow  those  of  Dr.  Eberly,  and  con- 
stitute a  valuable  part  of  the  book.  They  have  been  in  course  of 
collection  and  preparation  for  years,  and  relate  chiefly  to  the  early 
history  of  the  Church  in  York  and  Lancaster  Counties,  Pa.,  and 
include    a    class    of   matter  that  is   both   interesting   and  valuable. 


In  the  years  to  come,  no  matter  how  highly   appreciated   it  may  be 
now,  the  real  value  of  the  material  he  has  gathered  will  appear. 

In  the  collection  and  preparation  of  our  portion  of  this  matter, 
which  forms  the  closing  chapters  of  the  volume,  the  w^riter's  aim 
and  effort  was  to  be  accurate,  taking  pains  to  verify  the  results  of 
his  research.  Still,  enough  errors  have  crept  in  to  prove  that  the 
effort  was  human.  Moreover,  the  final  revision  was  made  amid 
many  official  cares,  and  after  the  taxing  toil  of  the  day  was  over. 
So  w^e  present  the  results  of  our  labor,  imperfect  though  they  be, 
believing  that  many  will  enjoy  reading  the  book,  and  that  those 
w^ho  do  so  will  be  benefited. 

Very  Sincerely, 

C.  I.  B.  BRANE 

Dayton,  Ohio 
Easter,  1911 


^n  7httr0^uttton 


T  has  been  my  pleasure  to  read  advance  proof  sheets 
of  a  volume  to  be  issued   under  the  title,  "Landmark 
History  of  The  United  Brethren  Church,"  written  by 
Rev.  Daniel  Eberly,  A.M.,  D.D.,  Rev.  Isaiah  H.  Albright, 
A.M..  Ph.D.,  and  Rev.  C.  I.  B.  Brane,  A.M.,  D.D. 

This  volume  is  composed  of  lectures  delivered  by  the  authors 
at  different  places  during  the  past  few  years.  Dr.  Eberly  writes  on 
the  history  of  our  Church  in  the  eastern  part  of  Cumberland  County, 
Penn'a;  Dr.  Albright  presents  the  beginnings  of  our  Church  in 
Lancaster  and  York  Counties ;  while  Dr.  Brane  gives  to  the  Church 
the  history  of  our  denomination  in  the  original  territory  of  the 
Church,  including  persons  and  families,  homes,  churches  and 
schools. 

Every  page  written  by  these  able  w^riters  is  of  special  interest, 
not  only  to  our  Church  in  the  localities  of  w^hich  they  w^rite,  but 
also  to  the  entire  denominations ;  for  they  w^rite  of  places  and 
periods  which  touch  the  early  history  of  our  Church  life.  Inter- 
esting details  are  presented  that  do  not  and  can  not  appear  in  a 
general  history  of  the  denomination. 

The  volume  contains  nearly  300  pages,  richly  illustrated.  Facts 
are  given  in  this  book  that  are  nowhere  to  be  found  in  any  of  the 
historical  w^ritings  of  our  Church.  The  authors  are  to  be  congratu- 
lated upon  the  completion  of  this  contribution  to  the  permanent 
literature  of  our  denomination.  A  reading  of  the  book  will  cause 
respect  for  the  Church  and  enthusiasm  in  her  service. 

W.  R.  FUNK. 

United  Brethren  Publishing  House 
Dayton,  Ohio 
March  1,  1911 


CONTENTS 


PART  ONE 

By  Rev.  Daniel  Eberly,  A.M.,  D.D. 

Lecture  the  First Page  1  5 

Lecture  the  Second      "29 

The  Illustrations "     42 

Notes  on  Lectures "     50 

PART  TWO 

By  Rev.  I.  H.  Albright,  A.M.,  Ph.D. 

Chapter     I — Origin  of  the  Church Page  87 

Chapter    II — Lancaster  County  Churches "101 

Chapter  III — York  County  Churches "    1  49 


PART  THREE 

By  Rev.  C.  I.  B.  Brane,  A.M.,  D.D. 

Chapter      I — United  Brethren  in  Lebanon  County 

Chapter     II — Some  Maryland  Marks 

Chapter  III — Churches  in  Frederick  County    .    .    . 
Chapter  IV — Some  Pioneer  Church  Schools    .    .    . 
Chapter    V — St.  Paul's  Church,  Hagerstown,  Md. 
Chapter  VI — Some  Miscellaneous  History    .    .    .    . 


.  Page  201 
228 
242 
254 
260 
285 


LECTURES  ON 
THE  ORIGIN  AND  EARLY  HISTORY 

OF  THE 

CIturclj  of  tlfc  llnttci  |Srctl)rcn  in  flilfnst 

IN  THE 

Sastcni  |Jart  of  (EumbtrlanlJ  (Hountu,  |Ja. 

BY 

D  A  N  I  E  L      E  B  E  R  L  Y,      A.M.,    D.  D. 


ERRATA 


The  John  Hershey,  whose  picture  and  house  appear  on  pages 
251  and  253,  was  the  son  of  Rev.  John  Hershey.  "John  Hersheys 
Barn,  "  also  on  page  253,  should  have  the  title  "Rev."  ;  but  the  pic- 
ture above  the  barn  is  that  of  "Rev."  John  Hersheys  son,  also 
named  "John." 


Preface 


HESE  lectures  or  addresses  were  delivered  in  the  United 
Brethren  Church  at  Shiremanstown,  Pa.,  on  the  Sab- 
bath evenings  of  June  12th  and  19th,  1904.  Some  of 
those  who  composed  the  large  audiences  at  the  time 
have  frequently  requested  me  for  their  publication.  To  this  I  have 
now  consented. 

Much  of  the  information  in  the  first  lecture  I  received  from 
Father  John  Shopp,  born  in  1  794,  who  was  a  boy  of  nine  years 
when  Otterbein  held  a  meeting  in  his  father's  house  in  1803.  From 
him  also  I  obtained  the  account  of  the  great  revival  in  1819. 

From  my  father,  Samuel  Eberly,  who  became  identified  with 
the  church  in  1820;  and  from  my  uncle.  Bishop  Jacob  Erb,  who 
joined  the  Conference  of  1823,  1  learned  many  things  with  regard 
to  the  early  history  of  the  United  Brethren  in  the  Cumberland  Val- 
ley, some  of  which  I  have  incorporated  in  my  address. 

The  second  lecture  recounts  what  I  personally  knew^.  With 
all  the  ministers  from  1  840  to  1  860  I  was  acquainted,  and  readily 
recall  the  events  of  those  days.  And  toward  the  closing  part  of 
that  period  became  an  active  participant :  "Quaeque  ipse  oidi,  el  quo- 
rum pars  magna  fui. " 

My  parents  enjoyed  the  visitations  of  our  preachers,  and  their 
home  was  a  "headquarters"  for  our  ministers  during  many  years. 
This  afforded  me  in  my  youth  a  good  opportunity  to  learn  to  know 
many  of  those  noble  and  devoted  men  of  the  Church. 

In  these  lectures  I  have  confined  myself  to  but  a  small  territory 
and  have  brought  the  history  of  events  up  only  to  1  860,  including 
that  year. 

D.  EBERLY. 

Hanover,  Penn'a 

January  31,  1910 


LECTURE  THE  FIRST 


HE  first  preaching  place  of  the  Church  of  the  United  Breth- 
ren in  Christ  in  the  lower  end  of  the  Cumberland  Valley 
was  in  the  house  of  the  elder  John  Shopp.  The  manor  of 
Paxton  or  Louther  embraced  all  the  land  between  the 
Conodoguinet  and  Yellow  Breeches  creeks,  bounded  on 
the  west  by  the  road  immediately  below  Shiremanstow^n, 
and  on  the  east  by  the  Susquehanna  River.  This  manor  w^as  surveyed  in 
1  765,  and  divided  into  twenty-eight  lots  or  parcels.  Lot  No.  26,  of  209  acres, 
was  purchased  from  the  heirs  of  William  Penn  by  Jonas  Seely,  afterwards  by 
Mannesmith,  and  then  by  Schnebele.  On  the  20th  day  of  September,  1  774, 
Ulrich  Shopp  bought  this  tract  of  land,  which  was  called  Manington.  He 
died  in  1  788,  and  then  his  son  John,  born  in  1  761,  became  the  ow^ner.  About 
the  year  1  787  he  married  Anna  Hershey,  of  Dauphin  County.  The  Hershey 
family  became  early  identified  with  the  revival  movement  of  the  Rev.  Martin 
Boehm,  and  lived  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  Isaac  Long,  in  whose  barn  and 
orchard  the  great  meeting  was  held,  about  the  year  1  768,  when  Otterbein 
and  Boehm  first  met.  Father  Boehm  made  an  evangelical  tour  to  what  was 
then  called  New  Virginia  as  early  as  1  761.  And  persons  residing  in  Lancas- 
ter and  Berks  Counties  who  desired  to  cross  the  Susquehanna  River  used 
either  the  Harris  Ferry  at  Harrisburg  or  Wright's  Ferry  at  Columbia ;  by  the 
first  way  the  friends  in  the  valley  at  Carlisle,  Greencastle,  Hager^town,  Boons- 
boro,  and  Antietam  w^ere  visited,  and  by  the  second  those  in  the  York  and 
Spangler  Valleys,  Littlestown,  Frederick  and  Middletown  Valley  in  Maryland. 
Hence,  when  tow^ard  the  close  of  the  1  8th  century  and  the  early  part  of  the 
1 9th,  Rev.  Martin  Boehm  made  his  ministerial  rounds  through  the  Cumber- 
land Valley  in  Pennsylvania,  and  the  Shenandoah  Valley  in  Virginia,  he  found 
both  a  home  and  a  preaching  place  in  the  house  of  John  Shopp  and  his  wife, 
Anna  Hershey.  This  became  a  centre  of  evangelical  life,  visited  by  the  early 
fathers  of  the  United  Brethren  Church,  and  here  the  Gospel  truth  was  pro- 
claimed by  Geeting,  Pfrimmer,  Grosh,  Kreider,  Neidig,  Mayer,  and  the 
Hersheys.  Bishop  Newcomer  was  here  twice  in  the  year  1 800,  March  24th 
and  October  3d;  twice  in  1801,  May  1  7th  and  December  3rd,  and  May  28th, 
1802.  In  his  Journal  he  writes:  "On  the  8th  day  of  October,  1803,  a  meeting 
commenced    at    Brother    Shopp's ;   Father    Boehm   opened    the    meeting  and 

15 


16  LANDMARK     HISTORY    OF    THE 

preached  with  great  power.  The  Word  reached  the  heart,  many  were  deeply 
affected.  The  slain  of  the  Lord  were  found  lying  in  every  direction,  lamenting 
and  crying  aloud  for  mercy.  Many  obtained  peace  with  God  in  the  pardon  of 
their  sins.  Love  feast  held  on  Sabbath  morning,  the  brethren  and  sisters  spoke 
very  feelingly  and  with  great  liberty  of  the  dealings  and  mercies  of  God.  It 
was  a  refreshing  season.  Father  Otterbein  preached  with  great  power  and 
energy.     The  grace  of  God  wrought  powerfully  among  the  people." 

From  this  we  learn  that  both  Boehm  and  Otterbein,  as  early  as  1 803, 
preached  in  the  house  of  John  Shopp. 

It  was  while  on  a  visit  to  this  place  that  Otterbein  preached  in  Peace 
Church,  called  in  the  German  Friedens  Kirche,  about  half  a  mile  north  of 
Shiremanstown.  It  is  a  large  stone  structure,  with  galleries  and  pipe-organ, 
built  by  the  German  Reformed  denomination  in  the  year  I  798,  during  the 
pastorate  of  the  Reverend  Anthony  Hautz,  who  had  studied  theology  at  Lan- 
caster, Penn'a,  with  Rev.  Dr.  Hendel,  a  brother-in-law  of  Bishop  Otterbein, 
both  being  married  to  sioters,  the  daughters  of  Abraham  LeRoy,  a  French 
Huguenot.  At  the  house  of  Dr.  Hendel,  Otterbein  became  acquainted  with 
the  young  student  of  divinity,  and  formed  a  friendship  that  remained 
through  life. 

Hautz  completed  his  studies  with  Dr.  Hendel  in  I  786.  He  served  several 
congregations  in  Lancaster  County,  and  in  I  788  took  charge  of  a  Reformed 
congregation  at  Harrisburg,  and  ten  years  later  he  accepted  a  call  to  Carlisle 
and  the  affiliating  congregations  of  Trindle  Spring,  Churchtown  and  Friedens 
Church.  At  the  latter  place  he  had  already,  in  I  793,  effected  an  organization 
and  preached  in  the  school-house  there  in  I  797.  Rev.  Hautz  treated  the 
early  United  Brethren  ministers  in  the  most  courteous  and  friendly  manner. 

When  the  corner-stone  of  Peace  Church  was  laid,  on  the  1 2th  day  of 
June,  I  798,  Rev.  George  Geeting  delivered  the  first  discourse,  a  Lutheran 
minister  by  the  name  of  Herbst  the  second,  and  Rev.  Christian  Newcomer 
gave  an  exhortation,  after  which  the  pastor.  Rev.  Anthony  Hautz,  delivered 
an  address  and  concluded  with  a  dedicatory  ceremony  and  prayer.  In  the 
afternoon  Geeting  and  New^comer  rode  in  company  with  the  Rev.  Mr.  Hautz 
to  his  residence  in  Carlisle,  were  lodged  and  kindly  entertained  by  him  for 
the  night. 

The  follov^ing  year,  1  799,  January  23,  as  New^comer  w^rites,  "1  spoke  at 
Rupp's  School  House  from  II  Peter  1:5.  The  German  Reformed  minister. 
Rev.  Anthony  Hautz,  was  present  and  gave  an  exhortation.  After  meeting 
w^e  rode  together  to  Carlisle,  his  place  of  residence,  and  stayed  with  him  for 
the  night ;   he  entertained  me  with  brotherly  love." 

From  different  sources  we  learn  that  Rev.  Mr.  Hautz  was  zealous  and 
earnest  in  his  preaching,  hospitable  and  kind,  yet  firm  and  determined  when 
he  believed  it  to  be  his  duty  to  oppose.  But  he  was  dearly  beloved  by  very 
many  of  the  best  people  in  the  various  congregations  w^hich  he  served.  It 
was  under  his  preaching  that  Jacob  Albright,  the  founder  of  the  Evangelical 
Association,  w^as  first  aw^akened  to  a  new^  and  a  better  life. 


UNITED    BRETHREN    CHURCH  17 

Any  student  of  the  status  of  church  hfe  at  this  time  will  readily  perceive 
the  dissimilar  elements  that  were  brought  together  in  one  large  organization, 
when  men  of  advanced  piety  and  holy  aspirations  were  associated  in  ecclesi- 
astical relation  with  those  who  not  only  had  no  interest  in  a  truly  spiritual 
life,  but  who  were  hostile  to  every  semblance  of  true  devotion.  The  natural 
sequence  was  that  some,  in  order  to  enjoy  a  service  in  which  a  singleness  of 
aim  gave  unity  and  afforded  a  common  sympathy,  withdrew  and  formed  new 
affiliations.  Though  the  number  at  first  was  not  great,  it  still  formed  a  nucleus 
about  which  the  accretions  became  positive,  able  not  only  to  assert,  but  also 
to  maintain  a  right  to  existence.  To  those  worshipping  at  the  house  of  John 
Shopp  there  was  a  unaminity  of  spirit,  singleness  of  purpose,  and  an  agree- 
ment as  to  the  liberating  power  of  true  regeneration.  This  was  the  keynote 
of  every  individual  experience  related,  the  evidence  held  aloft  by  each  pro- 
fessor of  religion,  and  the  claim  to  that  foundation  laid  in  Zion  whereby  the 
soul  exhumed  from  the  grave  of  sin  is  resuscitated  to  a  new  and  a  nobler  life. 

The  revival  power  manifested  at  the  great  meetings  in  Lancaster  County 
during  the  last  quarter  of  the  eighteenth  century  was  carried  as  sacred  fire  to 
be  placed  upon  the  altar  in  the  house  of  Father  Shopp  and  his  devoted  wife, 
and  thus  to  diffuse  saving  grace  and  life-giving  power  among  the  neighbors 
and  friends.  The  effort  for  good  was  not  exhausted  with  the  inception,  but  has 
increased  in  power  and  efficiency  for  a  century,  as  attested  not  only  by  the  fruit 
remaining  at  home,  but  also  by  the  hallowed  impulses  that  gave  inspiration  to 
those  who  migrated  to  setde  up  the  wilds  and  fertile  lands  of  the  great  West. 

The  minutes  of  the  Conferences  from  1  800  to  1818  show  that  a  system 
of  pastoral  visitation  and  ministerial  work  similar  to  circuit  travelling  was 
maintained,  and  in  this  way  Shopp's  home  was  known  as  a  preaching  place 
by  those  already  named,  and  especially  by  John  Neidig,  Joseph  Hoffman, 
Samuel  Huber,  Jacob  Wingert,  David  Snyder,  Henry  Kumler,  Sr.,  and  Chris- 
tian Smith. 

At  the  Conference  of  1810,  held  in  the  house  of  John  Cronise,  in  Freder- 
ick County,  Maryland,  it  was  resolved,  "That  all  preaching  places  in  Maryland 
and  on  the  west  side  of  the  Susquehanna  in  Pennsylvania  shall  be  served  by 
the  preachers  as  well  as  they  can,  and  that  all  places  shall  be  visited  twice 
during  the  year  by  the  other  preachers."  At  the  Conference  of  1  8  1  2,  it  was 
ordered  that  Abraham  Mayer  and  Jacob  Baulus  shall  be  placed  as  elders  to 
have  oversight  of  the  district  between  the  Potomac  and  the  Susquehanna 
Rivers."  At  this  time  new  places  of  worship  were  being  added  in  the 
valley. 

In  the  year  1810,  Christian  Erb  moved  with  his  family  from  his  farm, 
situated  two  miles  southeast  of  Manheim  in  Lancaster  County,  to  a  farm  which 
he  purchased  in  Cumberland  County,  on  the  west  banks  of  the  Susquehanna, 
midway  between  Wormleysburg  and  West  Fairview,  directly  opposite  the 
city  of  Harrisburg.  His  wife  was  Elizabeth  Hershey,  daughter  of  Christian 
Hershey,  who  resided  but  a  mile  and  a  half  from  Isaac  Long.  She  was  a 
sister  of  Abraham  and    of   Christian    Hershey,  early  ministers    of   the    United 


18  LANDMARKHISTORYOFTHE 

Brethren  Church,  of  whom  Rev.  Henry  Spayth,  in  his  history,  records :  "The 
two  Hersheys,  Christian  and  Abraham,  lovely  in  youth,  serving  the  Lord, 
nobly  bearing  the  burden  and  heat  of  the  day.  Their  father  before  them  had 
opened  his  house  and  substance  to  the  then  rising  Church,  for  the  preaching 
of  the  Gospel,  and  which  continued  as  such  by  his  children  for  many  years. 
Christian  moved  to  Iowa.  Abraham,  the  lovely,  friendly  Abraham,  has  gone 
to  rest." 

When  Christian  Erb  and  his  wife,  Elizabeth  Hershey,  became  settled  in 
their  new  home,  they  established  a  place  for  preaching  the  Gospel.  The 
members  of  our  Church  in  the  counties  of  Lancaster,  Berks  and  Dauphin, 
when  on  their  way  to  Maryland  or  Virginia,  or  to  meetings  in  Sherman's 
Valley,  Buffalo  Valley,  Path  Valley,  Turkey  Valley  and  Amberson's  Valley, 
crossing  the  Blue  Mountain  at  Sterrett's  Gap,  would  pass  over  the  river  by  the 
ferry  near  Erb's  residence  and  spend  the  night  at  this  Christian  home.  On 
a  certain  occasion  eight  preachers,  some  of  whom  had  their  wives  along, 
tarried  for  the  night.  They  were  on  their  way  to  Pfoutz's  Valley,  where  a 
quarterly  meeting  was  to  be  held.  That  evening,  supper  being  ended,  they 
had  preaching,  exhortation,  singing  and  praying.  People  got  into  the  spirit 
to  such  a  degree  that  it  became  impossible  to  close  the  exercises  at  the  regular 
time.  Christopher  Grosh,  one  of  the  grandest  and  most  devoted  preachers, 
was  present.  He  had  retired,  but  the  singing  and  shouting  had  precluded 
sleep,  and  so  he  directed  Christian  Smith  to  arise  and  go  down  stairs  and 
terminate  the  services.  The  orders  were  given,  but  the  devotions  were  irre- 
pressible, and  were  protracted  to  the  early  dawn.  After  breakfast  the  entire 
company  went  on  the  way  rejoicing.  This  continued  to  be  a  regular  preach- 
ing place,  visited  by  the  active  ministers  in  the  eastern  portion  of  the  Church. 

Bishop  John  Russel,  when  a  young  man,  travelled  an  immense  circuit 
extending  from  Hagerstown  to  the  Susquehanna  River,  and  had  in  the  list  of 
his  regular  appointments  Shopps,  near  Shiremanstown,  and  Erbs,  near  Worm- 
leysburg.  This  was  in  the  year  1818;  the  next  year  he  went  with  Bishop 
Newcomer  to  Ohio  at  the  urgent  demand  for  ministerial  workers  there.  He 
w^as  a  man  of  splendid  physique,  with  large  frame,  over  six  feet  tall,  very 
muscular  and  of  great  activity.  At  the  time  he  was  preaching  on  this  charge 
he  was  a  young  man  of  nineteen  years.  Jacob  Erb,  who  then  was  a  boy  of 
fourteen,  related  how  Russel  one  morning  went  to  their  spring  to  wash  his 
hands  and  face.  He  had  preached  the  evening  before,  and  during  the  night 
a  deep  snow  had  fallen.  From  the  spring  to  the  house  there  was  considerable 
of  an  acclivity,  and  Russel,  with  his  wet  hands  and  face,  made  this  ascent 
with  such  prodigious  leaps  in  the  snow  that  they  reminded  him  of  the  vigor- 
ous springs  of  a  deer. 

Christian  Erb  died  in  the  year  1820.  His  widow  moved  to  Wormleys- 
burg,  where  she  resided  for  many  years,  and  maintained  regular  preaching 
in  her  house,  in  which  she  took  a  deep  interest.  She  attained  to  the  good 
age  of  eighty-five  years,  retaining  a  clearness  of  mind  and  a  cheerfulness  of 
spirit  and  a  vivacity  of  disposition  truly  remarkable. 


UNITED     BRETHREN     CHURCH  19 

It  is  a  striking  coincidence  that  Anna  Hershey,  the  wife  of  John  Shopp,  Sr., 
and  Ehzabeth  Hershey,  the  wife  of  Christian  Erb,  both  reached  the  age  of 
eighty-five  years ;  both  were  born  in  Lancaster  County  and  buried  in  Cum- 
berland County,  the  one  in  Shopp's  graveyard  near  Shiremanstown,  the  other 
at  the  Poplar  Church,  not  far  from  West  Fairview.  They  were  cousins,  and 
in  their  houses  were  entertained  the  first  preachers  of  the  United  Brethren 
Church  in  the  lower  end  of  the  Cumberland  Valley.  We  can  hardly  over- 
estimate the  importance  of  these  two  pious  women  in  the  inchoation  and 
early  development  of  the  rising  denomination. 

In  the  year  1819,  a  powerful  revival  of  religion  occurred  in  the  house  of 
John  Shopp.  During  that  year  a  young  man,  born  in  York  County,  named 
James  Neiman,  was  employed  as  a  hired  hand  on  the  farm  of  Mr.  Shopp. 
This  man  and  Samuel  Shopp,  a  son,  went  to  hear  Rev.  Abraham  Mayer 
preach  at  the  house  of  a  Mr.  Brandt  on  the  Conodoguinet,  several  miles 
below^  Hoguestown.  Both  w^ere  powerfully  impressed  by  the  Word  preached. 
About  one  week  after  this,  Neiman's  brother  died  in  York  County.  Rev. 
John  Neidig  officiated  at  the  funeral.  His  sermon  w^rought  still  deeper  con- 
viction ;  and  Neiman  felt  the  burden  of  his  heart  to  be  intolerable.  In  the 
deep  anguish  of  his  soul  he  approached  Father  Shopp's  son  John,  who  was 
then  in  his  twenty-sixth  year,  and  no  professor  of  religion,  and  related  to  him 
the  extreme  grief  of  his  mind,  and  earnestly  requested  him  to  go  to  Dauphin 
County  and  ask  Rev.  John  Neidig  to  come  over  and  hold  a  meeting  and  pray 
w^ith  him.  The  request  w^as  granted.  John  Shopp,  Jr.,  took  his  horse  and 
rode  to  Father  Neidig's  house,  but  did  not  find  him  at  home.  Then  he  went 
to  Rev.  Jacob  Roop's  residence,  and  he  came.  Soon  after  the  arrival  the 
announcement  w^as  made  through  the  neighborhood  that  a  meeting  w^as  to 
be  held  that  evening,  and  at  an  early  hour  people  began  to  assemble.  While 
the  family  and  guest  w^ere  seated  at  the  supper  table  a  young  lady  named 
Nancy  Baker  entered  the  room  and  took  a  chair.  Presently  she  began  to 
w^eep  aloud,  revealing  not  only  her  ow^n  feelings,  but  presenting  an  index  of 
the  deep  religious  undercurrents  in  that  community.  At  the  appointed  hour 
Father  Roop  preached  the  Word  which  proved  a  "savor  from  life  unto  life." 
Penitents  who  cried  aloud  for  pardon  w^ere  enabled  to  rejoice  in  the  freedom 
of  a  glorious  regeneration.  On  that  night  John  himself,  who  had  gone  for 
the  preacher,  was  converted  ;  and  two  years  later  the  mantle  of  his  dying 
father  fell  upon  his  shoulders,  which  he  bore  with  a  modest  dignity  and  a 
consecrated  fidelity  for  almost  three-fourths  of  a  century.  His  brother  Chris- 
tian being  one  of  the  inquirers,  at  first  became  enraged  at  the  excitement,  but 
soon  forgot  all  amid  the  anxiety  of  his  own  soul,  and  found  peace  by  faith. 
His  brother  David,  but  a  boy,  at  first  alarmed,  was  consoled,  and  felt  that  he 
was  a  child  of  grace.  His  brother  Samuel  sought  and  found  the  pearl  of 
great  price,  and  so  did  his  brother  Jacob.  Thus  in  the  same  night  were  the 
five  sons  of  the  elder  John  Shopp  brought  into  a  glorious  redemption  ;  and 
also    three    of   his   daughters,    Sarah,  Annie    and    Catharine ;    two  daughters. 


20  LANDMARK     HISTORYOFT  HE 

Elizabeth  and  Frances,  having  previously  been  added  to  the  believers  in 
Christ. 

At  this  meeting  quite  a  number  also  of  neighbors  were  converted,  some 
of  whom  became  useful  Christian  workers,  and  who  took  a  decided  stand  to 
assert  and  to  maintain  what  they  believed  to  be  the  truth. 

James  Neiman,  at  whose  instance  this  meeting  had  been  called,  was  not 
disappointed  in  his  fervent  aspirations  for  peace  v/ith  God.  Emancipated 
from  the  thraldom  of  sin,  exultingly  he  entered  upon  a  new  and  a  better  life. 
He  at  once  became  an  important  factor  in  the  work  of  morality  and  piety  of 
his  neighborhood.  The  doctrine  of  experimental  religion  at  that  time  found 
great  opposition  from  unconverted  church  members,  and  therefore  there  w^as 
a  pressing  necessity  for  leaders  of  courage  and  talent  to  guide  and  direct  the 
movements  of  those  who  w^ished  to  march  on  the  elevated  plains  of  a  higher 
life.  Neiman  had  enlisted  for  the  conflict,  and  immediately  took  his  stand. 
At  home  he  began  as  an  exhorter ;  afterw^ards  he  entered  the  ministerial 
ranks  and  became  an  efficient  and  devoted  preacher  of  the  Gospel  in  the 
Pennsylvania  Conference,  and  w^as  a  delegate  to  the  General  Conference  of 
1833.  Was  a  presiding  elder  in  1835.  Later  he  moved  to  Richland  County, 
Ohio,  and  entered  the  ranks  of  Gospel  laborers  there. 

Another  minister  w^ho  arose  out  of  this  revival  was  Christian  Shopp. 
After  doing  good  service  in  his  native  State,  he  migrated  to  the  State  of  Ohio 
and  located  seven  miles  from  Dayton.  Afterwards  he  moved  to  Springfield. 
He  died  in  the  triumphs  of  the  Gospel. 

This  revival  also  furnished  an  excellent  leader  in  the  person  of  Michael 
Coover.  He  lived  on  a  farm  near  Cedar  Spring,  about  one  mile  from  Shire- 
manstow^n.  He  opened  his  house  for  preaching,  and  took  an  active  part  in 
promulgating  the  doctrines  of  vital  piety  as  taught  by  the  ministers  in  our 
Church.  Later  on,  he  with  his  family  moved  to  Ohio,  w^here  he  did  excellent 
w^ork  for  true  religion.      He  is  buried  in  a  cemetery  at  Dayton. 

Another  preaching  place  of  the  early  United  Brethren  ministers  w^as  on  a 
farm  contiguous  to  Shopps.  The  buildings  are  along  the  Harrisburg  and  Car- 
lisle Turnpike.  Daniel  Sherban,  w^ho  vv^as  the  ow^ner,  was  one  of  the  six  men 
w^ho  had  composed  the  vestry  of  the  Lutheran  congregation  that  in  1 806 
purchased  the  half  interest  of  Peace  Church  from  the  German  Reformed 
congregation  ;  being  after  that  date  jointly  owned  by  these  tw^o  denominations. 
He  w^as  a  prominent  member  and  officer  for  some  years,  but  after  a  w^hile 
became  a  member  of  the  United  Brethren,  and  the  early  preachers  found  in 
his  house  both  a  home  and  place  to  proclaim  Gospel  truth. 

Samuel  Eberly,  who  had  married  in  1816  Catherine,  the  daughter  of 
Christian  Erb,  moved  in  the  spring  of  the  followdng  year  on  a  farm  adjoining 
the  lands  of  both  Shopp  and  Sherban.  His  parents  w^ere  pious  members  of 
the  Mennonite  Church,  but  he,  as  yet,  had  made  no  religious  profession.  As 
he  had  great  respect  for  Mr.  Shopp  and  his  family,  and  Avas  a  very  vs^arm 
friend  of  Mr.  Sherban,  he  occasionally  attended  preaching  at  their  houses.  A 
sermon  delivered  by  Rev.  John  Neidig  greatly  impressed   sacred  truths  upon 


UNITED    BRETRHEN    CHURCH  21 

his  mind  and  heart,  which  led  him  into  a  state  of  inquiry  and  prayer.  He 
found  the  desired  divine  forgiveness  and  saving  peace  which  God  alone  can 
give.  Immediately  he  took  an  active  part  in  the  work  of  evangelization  in 
the  community.  He  served  as  class  stew^ard,  class  leader,  exhorter  and 
preacher.  Became  a  member  of  the  Pennsylvania  Conference  in  1832,  and 
was  ordained  in  1835.  His  labors  were  confined  mostly  to  places  near  his 
home,  and  w^as  an  active  promoter  in  the  building  of  the  Shopp's  Church  in 
1827,  and  the  one  in  Shiremanstown  in  1854.  He  felt  that  the  inconvenience 
of  preaching  in  houses  militated  against  the  efficiency  in  reaching  the  masses. 
He  desired  that  the  multitudes  should  hear  the  Gospel  in  its  simplicity,  purity 
and  pow^er.  He  had  learned  of  the  great  camp-meetings  held  in  w^oods 
higher  up  in  the  valley,  but  as  yet  there  was  none  in  the  lower  part  of  Cum- 
berland. To  accomplish  this  much-desired  end  he  gave  his  woods,  of  some 
thirty  acres,  being  that  part  of  the  farm  which  is  the  lower  field,  in  the  manor 
of  Pctxton.  This  campmeeting  was  in  I  822.  Thousands  of  people  assembled. 
On  Sabbath  morning  the  presiding  elder,  Abraham  Mayer,  of  blessed  memory, 
preached  to  the  multitudes  present.  But  the  opposition  w^as  fierce.  Formal 
ecclesiasticism  was  arrayed  in  grim  hostility.      Yet  much  good  w^as  done. 

A  second  campmiceting  w^as  held  on  the  same  ground  in  1823.  Rev. 
Samuel  Huber  and  Rev.  Henry  Burtner  w^ere  the  ministers  in  charge.  Many 
other  clerical  brethren  w^ere  present,  all  of  w^hom  preached  and  spoke  w^ith 
zeal  and  earnestness.  The  animosity  of  the  cold-hearted,  the  hostility  of  the 
unregenerate,  the  enmity  of  the  sectarists  and  the  turbulence  of  the  ignorant 
w^ere  displayed  at  this  camp  also ;  but  w^ith  all  that  many  received  the  truth 
in  the  love  of  the  Gospel,  and  w^ere  induced  to  enter  into  a  newness  of  life 
at  once  grand  and  inspiring.  According  to  the  divine  promise  to  those 
chosen  by  the  Master,  that  their  fruit  shall  remain,  the  seed  sown  has  pro- 
duced fruitage,  and  is  still  continuing  to  yield  unto  everlasting  life,  and 
proving  a  saving  health  unto  the  people. 

About  the  year  1 820  the  United  Brethren  Church  began  to  display  an 
unprecedented  vigor  and  life.  The  denomination  seemed  to  assume  a  vastly 
different  character,  prepared  to  assert  and  maintain  its  right  to  existence  and 
a  respectable  place  among  others.  In  his  church  history  John  Law^rence 
w^rites :  "Not  only  was  no  progress  made  in  numbers  from  1810  to  1820,  but 
undoubtedly  there  was  a  retrogression."  The  cause  of  this  was  "the  lack  of 
denominational  spirit.  Large  numbers  of  those  v/ho,  by  the  attraction  of 
divine  love,  had  formed  themselves  into  United  Brethren  societies,  refused 
to  have  their  names  recorded  in  a  church  book."  The  persistent  tenacity 
of  adhering  simply  to  the  use  of  the  German  language,  and,  in  short,  in 
failing  to  retain  the  children  of  the  Church,  to  meet  the  demands  made  by 
the  rapidly  increasing  change  of  language  now^  forced  upon  them.  Many  of 
the  sons  of  the  German  preachers  and  members  moved  w^ith  the  current  and 
sought  homes  elsew^here.  Hence,  "the  pressing  want  of  the  Church  w^as  an 
efficient  English-speaking  itinerant  ministry.  Betw^een  1816  and  1822  the 
Lord  of  the  harvest  sent  forth  a  class  of  laborers  who,  under  the   blessing  of 


22  LANDMARK     HISTORY     OFTHE 

heaven,  and  in  conjunction  with  others  aheady  in  the  work,  not  only  suc- 
ceeded in  arresting  the  retrograde  movement,  but  in  adding  largely  to  the 
numbers  and  strength  of  the  Church." 

Among  the  efficient  and  able  men  v^ho  gave  new  life  to  the  denomination 
and  brought  in  an  era  of  prosperity  and  substantial  increase  may  be  men- 
tioned William  Brow^n,  who  w^as  born  in  Cumberland  County,  Penn'a,  in  the 
year  1796.  He  entered  the  ministry  in  1816,  and  soon  rose  to  a  high 
position  of  usefulness ;  and  under  his  labors  the  Church  advanced  gloriously. 
He  labored  zealously  in  the  East  for  twenty-tv/o  years,  eighteen  as  circuit 
and  station  preacher  and  presiding  elder,  and  four  as  bishop ;  elected  in 
1833  he  held  that  position  till  1837  with  great  acceptability.  His  influence 
in  shaping  the  grow^th  and  character  of  our  Church  in  the  Cumberland  Valley 
w^as  marked  and  decided.  He  never  faltered.  No  outside  pressure  could 
sw^erve  him  from  his  purpose  nor  induce  him  to  allow  the  achievements 
already  made  to  be  neutralized  by  questionable  affiliations  w^ith  adventurers 
in  the  field  of  ecclesiastical  innovation.  His  was  a  positive  and  decided 
effort  to  make  the  denomination  a  compact  and  cohesive  organization. 

Jacob  Erb,  w^ho  w^as  born  in  Lancaster  County  in  the  year  1  804,  entered 
the  ministry  in  1823.  He  early  saw^  the  indispensable  necessity  of  enrolling 
the  converts  in  regular  form  and  organizing  them  for  church  w^ork.  Many 
opposed  all  classification,  and  this  w^as  especially  the  case  east  of  the  Susque- 
hanna, v/here  there  w^ere  hundreds  of  members  w^ithout  enrollment.  To  him 
belongs  the  honor  of  forming  the  first  United  Brethren  class  there  in  the 
year  1827,  at  a  place  called  Sherk's  meeting-house,  located  in  the  northw^es- 
tern  portion  of  Lebanon  County,  about  two  and  a  half  miles  east  of  Grant- 
ville,  Dauphin  County.  But  classes  w^ere  organized,  years  before,  on  the  w^est 
side  of  the  river.  His  shrew^d  and  far-seeing  policy  led  to  the  adoption  of 
methods  by  which  the  results  of  earnest  labors  w^ere  permanently  secured. 
He  was  elected  a  bishop  in  the  Church  in  1837,  and  served  three  terms.  In 
German  he  w^as  a  forceful  and  eloquent  preacher ;  in  English  he  ranked  as 
a  plain  but  very  scriptural  speaker.  His  style  w^as  clear,  and  he  could 
always  "hit  the  mark."  He  possessed  a  great  talent  in  getting  young  men 
of  ability  to  enter  the  ministry,  and  rejoiced  in  their  success. 

These  two  men,  William  Brown  and  Jacob  Erb,  did  a  great  work  in 
shaping  and  directing  the  policy  of  our  Church  in  the  Cumberland  Valley, 
especially  from  1825  to  1837,  in  giving  efficiency  to  the  management  during 
its  most  formative  period.  Of  them  v^e  may  say :  "They  rest  from  their 
labors  ;  for  their  works  follow^  w^ith  them." 

Both  of  these  men  were  aggressive,  and  demanded  for  the  denomination 
the  right  for  existence  and  recognition.  Brown  being  eight  years  older  than 
Erb  w^as  a  preacher  of  six  years'  experience  w^hen  Jacob  was  holding  prayer 
meetings  in  the  houses  of  the  brethren.  From  what  I  learned  years  ago  from 
those  who  participated,  these  meetings  were  carried  on  with  wondrous  power 
and  in  regular  rotation  in  the  houses  of  the  members.  One  week  the  as- 
semblage was  at  John  Shopp's,  the  next  at  Michael  Coover  s,  then  at  Daniel 


UNITED     BRETHREN     CHURCH  23 

Sherban's,  Samuel  Eberly's,  Christian  Shopp's,  George  Renner's,  Jacob  Balm- 
er's,  and  so  on.  To  those  meetings  came  quite  a  number  of  people  who  had 
been  converted,  but  still  retained  membership  where  there  was  opposition 
to  prayer  meetings  and  hostility  against  revivals  of  religion.  Hence,  frequently 
on  the  vs^ay  home,  the  propriety  of  w^ithdraw^ing  membership  from  such 
congregations  w^as  discussed  wdth  considerable  warmth.  It  is  natural  to  love 
the  church  in  which  a  person  has  been  raised,  and  to  break  those  ties  causes 
disquietude  and  many  anxious  thoughts.  On  a  certain  evening,  when  re- 
turning from  prayer  meeting,  young  Erb  entered  into  a  controversy  with 
great  zeal  on  this  subject  w^ith  Jacob  Coover,  a  most  excellent  Christian  gen- 
tleman, w^ho  w^as  very  reluctant  to  sever  the  bonds  of  his  church  union.  Mr. 
Coover  said  :  "If  I  have  a  light  to  guide  a  company  over  a  dangerous  road 
on  a  dark  night,  am  I  justified  in  taking  that  light  aw^ay  from  them  ?"  To 
this  Mr.  Erb  responded  :  "If  your  company  be  composed  of  persons  w^ho 
appreciate  the  light,  it  w^ould  be  very  wrong  to  remove  it;  but  if  the  company 
be  constituted  of  persons  who,  without  discretion,  are  wielding  bludgeons 
right  and  left,  liable  at  any  moment  to  extinguish  your  light  and  placing 
yourself  in  the  dark  with  them,  better  get  out."  And  Mr.  Coover,  not  long 
afterw^ards,  did  get  out.  For  many  years  he  w^as  a  resident  of  Mechanicsburg, 
the  first  member  of  our  Church  in  that  tow^n,  around  w^hom  others  gathered 
and  a  society  formed  in  the  old  Union  Church,  w^hich  w^ith  years  has  grow^n 
into  the  present  large  congregation. 

In  the  year  1 824,  when  Jacob  Erb  was  travelling  on  the  Hagerstown 
circuit  as  junior  preacher  under  Rev.  Henry  Burtner,  of  whom  he  alw^ays 
spoke  in  the  highest  terms  of  praise,  he  made  a  short  visit  to  his  mother  at 
Wormleysburg.  There  he  learned  that  the  Rev.  John  George  Pfrimmer  was 
then  in  Harrisburg,  having  come  East  to  see  his  old  friends  and  to  attend 
the  Conference  to  be  held  at  Rohrersville,  Maryland.  Mr.  Erb  at  once 
determined  to  have  him  to  preach.  Consequently  he  crossed  the  river,  and, 
as  directed,  w^ent  to  the  house  of  a  Mr.  Good  and  inquired  of  Mrs.  Good 
whether  the  Rev.  Mr.  Pfrimmer  w^as  there.  She  did  not  answ^er  promptly, 
but  looked  significantly  tow^ard  a  lounge  on  w^hich  a  man  w^as  resting,  dressed 
in  Kentucky  jean.  That  man  was  Pfrimmer.  Presenting  himself,  he  re- 
quested Mr.  Pfrimmer  to  preach  on  the  coming  Sabbath  morning  at  his 
mother's  house  in  Wormleysburg.  He  responded  that  he  had  engaged  to 
preach  at  that  time  in  the  Lutheran  Church  in  Harrisburg  (the  one  on  Fourth 
Street,  near  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  depot) ;  but  he  agreed  to  preach  at 
the  appointment  on  Sabbath  evening,  which  was  at  Michael  Coover' s,  at 
Cedar  Spring,  near  Shiremanstow^n.  His  friends,  who  had  enjoyed  his  minis- 
trations years  before,  came  gladly,  forming  an  appreciative  congregation. 

At  the  appointed  hour  Mr.  Pfrimmer  arose  and  said  that  in  the  morning 
at  Harrisburg  he  had  preached  "Christ  crucified,  unto  the  Jews  a  stumbling- 
block  and  unto  the  Greeks  foolishness.  "  Now^  he  would  take  an  easier 
subject — the  first  and  second  verses  of  the  seventy-sixth  Psalm:  "In  Judah  is 
God  knov/n :  his  name  is  great  in  Israel.     In  Salem  also  is  his  tabernacle,  and 


24  LANDMARKHISTORYOFTHE 

his  dwelling  place  in  Zion. "  The  sermon  was  grand,  framed  with  great 
skill,  and  adapted  not  only  to  arouse  and  quicken,  but  also  to  guide  and 
edify.  His  hearers  w^ere  carried  aloft  by  the  w^ords  of  his  burning  eloquence, 
and  readily  realized  the  great  privilege  in  enjoying  a  sermon  of  such  exqui- 
site beauty. 

On  Monday  forenoon  he  preached  at  Daniel  Sherban's,  about  tw^o  miles 
from  Coover's,  his  text  being  Isaiah  second  chapter,  second  and  third  verses : 
"And  it  shall  come  to  pass  in  the  last  days  that  the  mountain  of  the  Lord's 
house  shall  be  established  in  the  top  of  the  mountains,  and  shall  be  exalted 
above  the  hills ;  and  all  nations  shall  flow^  unto  it.  And  many  people  shall 
go  and  say,  Come  ye  and  let  us  go  up  to  the  mountain  of  the  Lord,  to  the 
house  of  the  God  of  Jacob ;  and  he  w^ill  teach  us  of  his  w^ays,  and  w^e  w^ill 
walk  in  his  paths ;  for  out  of  Zion  shall  go  forth  the  law,  and  the  word  of 
the  Lord  from  Jerusalem."  The  sermon  w^as  pow^erful.  The  theme  just 
suited  to  his  taste,  for  w^hich  his  fine  scholarship  and  theological  acquirements 
fitted  him.  The  full,  firm,  well-modulated  tones  of  his  voice,  and  his  counte- 
nance beaming  with  intelligence  and  benignity,  gave  peculiar  force  to  the 
fresh  and  striking  thoughts,  strongly  and  clearly  expressed.  A  peculiar 
characteristic  of  his  discourses  w^as  the  manner  of  handling  his  divisions, 
giving  a  gradual  increase  of  pow^er  to  each  proposition,  elaborating  and 
beautifying  the  argument  until  ideas  standing  out  in  bold  relief  challenged 
the  admiration  and  won  the  approval  of  his  auditors.     As  Glanville  wrote : 

"Still  rising  in  a  climax,  till  the  last. 
Surpassing  all,  is  not  to  be  surpassed." 

On  that  Monday  morning  at  Daniel  Sherban's,  in  concluding  one  of  his 
propositions  or  divisions  w^ith  classic  gracefulness  and  terseness,  with  touch- 
ing earnestness  and  w^ondrous  effect,  his  hearers  had  become  so  absorbed 
that  all,  w^ith  joy  in  their  hearts,  smiled.  With  an  intelligible  expression 
playing  in  his  faco  he  said  ;  "Why  do  you  smile  ?  It  is  true. "  To  this  a 
response  came  from  the  young  preacher,  Jacob  Erb :  "Because  that  which 
you  say  is  true  is  what  makes  us  glad. " 

This  was  the  last  visit  made  by  this  able  servant  of  the  Lord  to  this 
neighborhood  where  in  earlier  years  he  had  proclaimed  the  divine  Word. 
He  had  gone  West  in  1  808,  and  settled  near  Corydon,  Indiana.  As  a  result 
of  his  labors  a  church  was  built  there  in  1818  near  his  home,  the  first  United 
Brethren  church  west  of  the  Ohio  River.  He  attended  the  General  Confer- 
ence of  1825,  and  soon  after  closed  his  useful  labors  on  earth. 

On  the  third  day  of  April,  1826,  the  Pennsylvania  Conference  convened 
in  the  house  of  John  Shopp.  Bishops  Newcomer  and  Kumler  presided. 
John  Neidig,  Samuel  Huber  and  David  Baer  w^^re  elected  presiding  elders. 
Forty-two  preachers  were  present,  and  one  applicant  was  received  on  pro- 
bation. While  the  sessions  were  held  at  Shopp's,  other  members  assisted  in 
entertaining  the  preachers  and  caring  for  the  horses,  as  that  was  the  mode  of 
travel  then. 


UNITED    BRETHREN    CHURCH       '  25 

In  review  we  see  that  the  lower  part  of  the  valley  was  visited  by  United 
Brethren  preachers,  first  toward  the  close  of  the  eighteenth  century,  and  a 
preaching  place  established  in  the  house  of  John  Shopp,  Sr.  To  this  a  second 
place  was  added  in  1  8 1  0  in  the  house  of  Christian  Erb ;  later  on  a  third  in 
tho  house  of  Daniel  Sherban ;  the  revival  of  1819  gave  another  in  the  house 
of  Michael  Coover.  In  1823,  October  22d,  Bishop  Newcomer  preached  at 
Eberly's  from  John  fifth  chapter,  sixth  verse.  On  the  27th  at  Shopp's  from 
Malachi  fourth  chapter,  first,  second  and  third  verses.  In  1824,  January  1  4thr 
had  a  meeting  at  Daniel  Sherban's ;  January  20th,  preaching  at  Michael 
Coovcr's;  January  24th,  meeting  at  Renner's,  lodged  with  Samuel  Eberly. 
Sunday,  August  29th,  he  had  a  sacramental  meeting  at  Eberly's,  spoke  first 
from  Psalm  126;  had  a  blessed  time.  At  night  preached  from  Psalm  40  :  1-5; 
the  grace  of  God  wrought  pov/erfully  among  the  people.  August  30th  lodged 
with  John  Shopp,  and  next  day  had  meeting  at  Sherban's.  This  gives  to  us  an  idea 
as  to  how  the  work  was  carried  on  by  the  visiting  superintendent ;  and  at  the  same 
time  circuit  preachers,  appointed  annually,  travelled  over  this  same  territory. 

Soon  after  the  Conference  of  1826  the  great  inconvenience  of  worship- 
ping in  private  houses  became  apparent,  and  steps  -were  taken  w^ith  a  view^  to 
the  building  of  a  church  house.  The  membership  had  grow^n  strong,  and 
w^as  amply  able  to  erect  a  structure  suitable  for  the  purpose.  Accordingly,  a 
church  was  built  in  1827  on  Shopp's  land,  about  a  half  mile  below  Shire- 
manstown.  It  w^as  a  commodious  building,  constructed  of  limestone,  and  w^as 
an  honor  to  the  membership  of  that  day.  Many  of  the  active  ministers  of 
that  time  preached  in  that  edifice.  Bishop  Newcomer  makes  the  following 
record  in  his  journal:  "Sunday,  October  14th,  1827:  We  had .  a  sacramental 
meeting  in  the  newr  meeting  house  at  Shopp's.  Brothers  Neidig,  Sneider, 
Winebrenner  and  others  were  present ;  I  spoke  from  John  3  :  I  4  to  1  8.  1  5th  : 
We  had  a  blessed  time."  Again — "Sunday,  February  8th,  1829:  I  preached 
in  Shopp's  new^  meeting  house  from  Luke  18:  1  to  8.  The  Lord  was  w^ith 
us,  and  blessed  the  Word  spoken.  Brother  Dreisbach  preached  at  night,  and 
I  exhorted  after  him. "  This  church  for  years  belonged  to  w^hat  w^as  called 
the  Carlisle  circuit.  From  the  best  information  1  could  obtain  it  appears  that 
Jacob  Lehman  was  the  preacher  in  1826-27,  and  John  Krock  in  1827-28. 
William  Scholde  1828-29,  and  John  Schneider  w^as  presiding  elder.  In 
1 829-30  Ezekial  Boring  and  William  Brown  had  charge.  It  had  become  a 
prominent  point  on  the  circuit,  and  on  the  22d  day  of  March,  1830,  the 
Pennsylvania  Conference  convened  there,  presided  over  by  Bishop  Kumler, 
assisted  by  George  Geeting.  The  General  Conference  of  1  829  had  divided 
the  old  Conference,  w^hich  had  embraced  the  Pennsylvania  and  Virginia,  yet 
the  brethren  all  met  together  once  more  in  this  house.  This  Conference  had 
the  mournful  duty  of  entering  in  its  journal  the  deaths  of  Bishop  New^comer 
and  Rev.  Christopher  Grosh.  From  1 830  to  1 835  this  congregation  w^as 
served,  in  consecutive  order,  by  John  Schneider,  John  Smith,  Andrew  Ringer, 
Jacob  Schneider,  Francis  C.  Wilson,  Ezekiel  Boring,  Peter  Harman  and 
Jacob  Roop. 


26  LANDMARKHISTORYOFTHE 

On  the  11th  day  of  March,  1835,  the  Annual  Conference  convened  in 
this  church.  Bishop  Brown  presided.  Rev.  Jacob  Erb,  chairman.  The  Con- 
ference at  this  time  had  eighty-three  preachers.  Revs.  J.  Erb,  J.  Neiman  and 
J.  Rider  were  elected  presiding  elders.  There  were  eleven  circuits  and  the 
Baltimore  station.  The  circuits  were  large  and  the  presiding  elders  did  a 
great  deal  of  what  now  would  be  called  mission  w^ork.  At  this  Conference 
Rev.  Jacob  Ritter  was  appointed  preacher  and  served  two  years.  His  ser- 
vices were  in  the  English  language,  and  during  his  first  year  the  German 
preaching  was  furnished  by  Rev.  Jacob  Roop,  and  the  second  year  by  Rev. 
Jacob  Erb. 

Ritter  was  a  man  of  ability  and  an  able  expositor  of  the  Word.  When 
the  Allegheny  Conference  was  set  off  he  went  along,  and  took  an  active  part 
in  establishing  the  Mount  Pleasant  College  in  Westmoreland  County.  He 
was  the  author  of  the  work  called  "Ritter's  Advice  and  Sketch  Book,"  and 
he  ranked  high  as  a  pastor.  Later  he  studied  medicine  and  became  a  prac- 
ticing physician.  He  became  very  old,  and  is  buried  at  Liverpool,  in  Perry 
County. 

Frederick  Gilbert  was  next  appointed  as  English  preacher,  and  served 
two  years,  1837  and  1838.  He  saw  a  great  deal  of  service  in  the  pioneer 
work  of  opening  up  new  fields.  During  his  first  year  Rev.  Daniel  Funkhouser 
did  the  German  preaching,  and  the  second  year  John  G.  Snyder. 

The  Rev.  Enoch  Hoffman  had  this  charge  in  1839.  He  was  a  large  man^ 
of  fine  personal  appearance,  and  a  very  good  preacher. 

In  1840  the  English  preacher's  name  was  John  Hirsh,  assisted  by  John 
Hetzele.  He  was  rather  undersized  in  stature,  but  well  built  and  muscular, 
and  had  the  reputation  of  having  Walker's  dictionary  at  his  tongue's  end. 
It  is  certain  he  had  a  strong  proclivity  to  use  words  of  sesquipedalian  length 
and  of  elaborating  his  arguments  clothed  in  ornate  and  trenchant  diction. 
He  was  an  entertaining  and  instructive  preacher,  and  gave  good  service  to 
his  people. 

Rev.  Jacob  Shollar  served  as  preacher  at  this  church  two  years,  1841  and 
1842.  He  was  a  native  German,  and  an  able  expositor  in  that  language. 
During  his  first  year  William  Wagner  and  the  second  Alexander  Owen  were 
the  English  preachers.  Shollar  afterwards  moved  to  Ohio,  and  attained  to  a 
great  old  age.  He  remained  a  member  of  the  German  Conference  there 
until  the  Master  called  him  to  his  eternal  home.  He  was  a  good  man,  and 
did  a  grand  work.  I  still  have  a  clear  recollection  of  a  sermon  which  I  heard 
him  preach  on  a  Christmas  morning  in  Shopp's  Church  when  I  was  between 
seven  and  eight  years  of  age.  The  repetition  of  words  in  his  text  impressed 
themselves  on  my  mind,  probably  to  be  retained.  "Da  Jesus  gaboren  war 
zu  Bethlehem  im  Juedischen  lande,  zur  zeit  des  Koenigs  Herodes,  siehe, 
da  komen  die  weisen  von  morgenlande  gen  Jerusalem  und  sprachen : 
Wo  ist  der  neugeborne  koenig  der  Juden?  Wir  haben  seinen  stern  gesehen 
im  morgenlande,  und  sind  kommen  ihn  anzubeten." 


UNITEDBRETHRENCHURCH  27 

About  this  time  also  William  Beighel  preached  here  by  visits.  He 
labored  in  the  Allegheny  Conference  for  many  years. 

When  the  Conference  of  1837  was  assembled  during  the  month  of 
March  in  Franklin  County,  at  the  close  of  the  session  Bishop  Heistand  asked, 
"Where  shall  the  next  Conference  be  held  ?"  there  was  no  response.  It  w^as 
a  large  body,  and  to  furnish  entertainment  for  all  the  members  was  a  con- 
siderable burden.  Rev.  Ezekiel  Boring  presented  a  resolution  that  the  Con- 
ference should  convene  in  some  town  w^here  there  w^ere  no  members  of  our 
Church,  rent  a  hall,  each  pay  for  his  own  board  and  lodging,  hurry  business 
through  and  go  home.  At  this  juncture  Jacob  Erb,  who  had  been  assigned 
to  the  Dauphin  circuit,  arose  and  proposed  to  entertain  the  members  of 
Conference  at  his  ow^n  expense  at  his  home  in  Wormleysburg.  He  had  mar- 
ried the  year  previous,  and  w^as  then  keeping  house.  His  proposition  was 
accepted,  and  accordingly  on  the  fifth  day  of  March,  I  838,  the  session  opened 
there.  Bishop  Hiestand  presided,  assisted  by  Erb,  v/ho  had  been  elected 
bishop  at  the  General  Conference  held  since  the  last  annual  session.  Ninety- 
eight  preachers  reported,  and  nine  w^ere  received  on  probation.  The  next 
year  the  Allegheny  Conference,  w^hich  had  been  set  off,  began,  and  took 
quite  a  number  avs^ay.  The  plan  which  he  adopted  to  hold  this  session  was: 
First,  he  rented  from  Squire  Black,  of  that  town,  a  large  building  w^hich  had 
been  used  for  school  purposes,  in  w^hich  to  hold  the  meetings  of  Conference ; 
second,  he  himself  boarded  forty  preachers,  and  paid  his  sisters,  w^ho  lived 
in  the  place,  to  board  forty  more ;  the  rest  he  assigned  to  places  among  his 
friends,  and  third,  laid  in  a  good  supply  of  oats  and  hay  for  the  horses ;  and 
all  passed  off  pleasantly.  There  w^as  no  trouble  to  get  a  place  for  next 
year. 

When  w^e  consider  the  men  and  the  women  of  this  period  of  time,  from 
1827  to  1842,  we  have  a  subject  w^orthy  of  reflection.  The  earnestness  of 
purpose  and  the  devotion  to  principle  which  animated  and  incited  those  men 
and  w^omen  of  noble  aspirations  and  lofty  purposes  to  impart  a  higher  devel- 
opment of  mental  culture  and  moral  conception  induces  us  instinctively  to 
accord  to  them  our  highest  admiration.  The  period  of  time  in  its  nature  w^as 
formative — it  w^as  plastic.  We  then  had  but  three  States,  Louisiana,  Arkansas 
and  Missouri,  w^est  of  the  Mississippi  River.  Many  of  our  people  in  Pennsyl- 
vania were  already  w^istfully  looking  tow^ards  the  rich  prairies  of  Illinois,  the 
fertile  valleys  and  river  bottoms  of  Indiana  and  Ohio,  and  the  trend  w^as 
w^estw^ard.  But  the  itinerating  preacher,  w^ith  his  horse  and  saddle-pockets, 
kept  up  vs^ith  the  march,  and  thus  a  communication  w^as  maintained  in  the 
brotherhood  ;  and  by  his  evangelical  visitation  carried  the  message  of  peace, 
and  thereby  the  bonds  of  a  holy  communion  w^ere  preserved.  It  is  evident 
that  the  faithful  co-operation  of  the  laity  and  ministry  is  what  gave  success  to 
the  work.  The  loyalty  and  piety  of  the  lay  members  of  the  Church  in  open- 
ing their  houses  for  divine  service  before  churches  were  erected,  the  generous 
cheerfulness  with  which  they  welcomed  the  heralds  of  salvation  to  their 
homes,    and   with    open-hearted    kindness    entertained    them,    stands   a   firm 


28  LANDMARK     HISTORYOFTHE 

record  of  their  fidelity  that  can  never  be  effaced.  They  were  the  sturdy  an- 
cestry, whose  children,  nurtured  in  homes  where  the  Bible  is  the  true  stan- 
dard, have  become  the  life  and  strength  of  a  cultured  Christian  community. 
And  those  consecrated,  self-sacrificing  promulgaters  of  hallowed  truth  who 
without  faltering  went  forth  in  the  winter's  cold  and  the  summer's  heat,  amid 
sunshine  and  storm,  who  feared  neither  poverty  nor  dreaded  persecution, 
gave  evidence  of  the  declaration  of  the  Saviour :  "Ye.  have  not  chosen  me, 
but  I  have  chosen  you,  and  ordained  you,  that  ye  should  go  and  bring  forth 
fruit,  and  that  your  fruit  should  remain." 

When  the  prophet  of  Jehovah  stood  on  the  shady  margin  of  the  Tigris 
and  beheld  the  gorgeous  display  of  Omnicience  in  the  prefiguration  of  the 
destiny  of  nations,  he  broke  forth  in  his  peroration  with  words  descriptive  of 
the  culminating  joy  of  God's  saints,  which  we  may  appositely  inscribe  as 
epitaphs  on  the  monuments  of  these  faithful  servants  of  the  Master  : 

"The  teachers  that  are  wise  shall  shine  as  the  brightness  of  the  firmament; 
and  they  that  turn  many  to  righteousness  as  the  stars  forever  and  ever." 


LECTURE  THE  SECOND 


N  THE  spring  of  1843  a  new  charge  was  formed  of  a  part 
of  the  old  Carlisle  circuit,  called  "Shopp's  Station, "  to  be 
supplied  by  the.  Rev.  John  Fohl.  It  embraced  also  Fishing 
Creek,  Wormleysburg,  West  Fairview^,  and  an  appointment 
near  the  Blue  Mountain.  Mr.  Fohl  came  to  this  work 
bearing  the  reputation  of  an  efficient  preacher.  He  w^as 
tw^enty-eight  years  of  age,  but  had  seen  successful  service  in  the  mountains 
of  Western  Pennsylvania,  had  travelled  a  circuit  in  Washington  and  Green 
Counties,  and  after  tw^o  years'  labor  w^as .  appointed  to  the  Chambersburg 
circuit;  and  w^hile  there  about  one  hundred  persons  were  converted,  w^hich 
so  strengthened  the  Chambersburg  congregation  that  it  w^as  made  a  station 
the  follow^ing  year,  and  he  took  charge. 

The  next  three  years  he  served  as  presiding  elder,  and  then  w^as  ap- 
pointed to  Shopp's  Station,  w^here  he  labored  w^ith  marked  success  during  the 
years  1843-44-45.  His  residence  during  these  years  was  in  Shiremanstow^n. 
When  he  entered  upon  his  duties  here,  there  was  still  considerable  religious 
agitation.  There  w^as  an  evident  subsidence  in  the  emotional  display  of  those 
w^ho  but  recently  were  carried  on  the  current  of  the  Millerite  delusion,  but 
still  there  w^as  an  unrest.  During  the  past  winter  the  excitement  in  Shire- 
manstow^n  and  vicinity  had  been  intense.  An  old  gentleman  named  Father 
William  Miller  predicted  that  the  w^orld  w^ould  positively  come  to  an  end  on 
the  23d  day  of  May,  1843.  For  v/eeks  in  succession  there  vv^as  preaching  in 
the  Bethel,  of  Shiremanstown,  and  for  a  while  meetings  were  held  day  and 
night,  every  available  spot  in  the  house  w^as  taken  up,  and  at  last  became  a 
seething  hot-bed.  William  Miller  himself  preached  several  times,  while 
Litch,  Osier,  Himes,  Storrs,  Gates  and  others  continued  to  hold  forth  their 
prophetical  delineations  and  arousing  the  imaginations  of  old  and  young  to 
such  a  degree  that  some  w^ere  almost  demented.  Few^,  if  any,  of  the  United 
Brethren  were  draw^n  into  the  delusion. 

WilHam  Miller  was  born  in  Pittsfield,  Mass.,  in  1781;  died  in  Low  Hamp- 
ton, Washington  County.  New  York,  December  20,  1849.  In  the  war  of 
1812  he  was  captain  of  a  company  organized  to  protect  the  Northern  frontier. 

29 


30  LANDMARKHISTORYOFTHE 

"He  was  a  farmer  whose  early  facilities  for  education  w^ere  slight,  and  he 
seems  never  to  have  attained  to  any  higher  qualities  of  Biblical  criticism ;  but 
in  1833  he  began  to  lecture  on  the  speedy  second  coming  of  Christ.  His 
earnest  and  confident  manner  attracted  the  attention  of  many  persons  of 
ability,  and  after  a  few  years  of  constant  travel  and  preaching,  his  disciples 
were  reckoned  at  from  thirty  to  fifty  thousand."  Not  only  in  this  part  of  the 
Cumberland  Valley,  but  also  in  the  adjacent  County  of  York,  near  where 
Goldsboro  is  now  located,  in  an  old  church  building,  which  was  removed  to 
give  place  when  the  Northern  Central  Railroad  was  built,  meetings  were  held 
and  great  excitement  prevailed. 

When  the  time  arrived  for  the  final  consummation,  these  believers,  w^ith 
others  from  Middletown  and  vicinity  on  the  east  side  of  the  Susquehanna, 
assembled  on  the  previous  evening  on  Hill  Island  prepared  to  ascend  with 
the  glorified  Lord.  A  meeting  was  held  in  the  farmhouse  on  the  island, 
where  speaking,  prayer  and  singing  were  the  order.  After  midnight  the 
company  moved  out  on  the  top  of  the  highest  elevation  to  await  the  Lord  s 
coming,  and  I  was  once  told,  but  will  not  vouch  for  the  accuracy  of  the  story, 
that  a  big,  burly  York  County  woodchopper  from  the  Bald  Hills  was  among 
these  faithful  ones,  and  having  become  exceedingly  drowsy  from  the  pro- 
tracted wake,  fell  asleep.  As  the  night  air  along  the  river  was  rather  chilly 
some  of  the  more  prudent  started  a  blazing  wood-fire  to  warm  themselves, 
w^hich  aroused  the  big  brother,  and,  terrified,  he  leaped  up  and  exclaimed  : 
"Waked  up  in  limbo,  just  as  I  expected  !" 

The  reaction  which  came  after  such  intense  perturbation  was  in  many 
cases  highly  pernicious  in  effect.  It  is  true,  a  great  many  professed  conver- 
sion, but  a  large  number  soon  relapsed.  Conversion  implies  the  cool  exercise 
of  reason,  and  when  pure  agitation  assumes  the  place  of  reason,  the  transi- 
tion into  a  better  state  becomes  nugatory.  A  cold,  sullen  indifference  which 
followed  the  commotion  seemed  to  pervade  the  community,  and  rendered 
Gospel  v/ork  extremely  difficult. 

But  Mr.  Fohl  devoted  himself  to  his  calling.  He  reorganized  the  classes 
at  Shopp's  Church.  Class  No.  I ,  Samuel  Eberly  leader,  composed  of  forty- 
one  members;  Class  No.  2,  Isaac  Neidig  leader,  composed  of  forty-eight 
members.  These  eighty-nine  members  were  among  the  most  highly  respected 
and  honorable  citizens  in  that  part  of  the  country.  Some  twelve  or  more  of 
the  best  farms  in  the  immediate  vicinity  were  owned  by  brethren  who  be- 
longed to  Shopp's  Church  when  Fohl  was  pastor.  The  people  liked  his 
preaching,  and  he  was  regarded  as  a  very  pious,  conscientious  and  earnest 
man,  leading  an  exemplary  life,  wholly  consecrated  to  the  ministry  of  the 
Word.  He  devoted  a  great  deal  of  time  to  pastoral  visitation,  and  succeeded 
in  keeping  his  members  united  and  in  gaining  accessions.  His  greatest 
success  was  on  the  other  parts  of  the  circuit,  for  he  built  churches  in  the 
Fishing  Creek  Valley  and  at  West  Fairview,  at  both  of  which  places  he  had 
excellent  revivals.     He  completed  his  three  years  with  good  results,  his  work 


UNITED    BRETHREN    CHURCH  31 

showing  him  to  be  a  minister  approved  of  God.  His  ministry  will  long  be 
remembered. 

The  first  half  of  this  decade  still  retained  much  of  the  pristine  spirit  and 
mode  of  the  old-fashioned  quarterly  meeting.  On  such  occasions  the  breth- 
ren, and  sisters  too,  came  in  vehicles  and  some  on  horseback,  from  Lebanon, 
York,  Dauphin  and  Perry  Counties,  and  were  entertained  by  the  members 
on  their  large  farms.  The  interest  at  such  times  was  intense.  I  can  well 
remember  the  preparation  which  was  made  for  these  events ;  the  stables  put 
in  order  for  the  horses,  and  the  available  room  of  the  houses  prepared  for 
lodging.  Bread,  pies  and  cakes  baked  ;  meats  provided,  and  especially  plenty 
of  chickens  put  in  readiness  for  immediate  use.  This,  of  course,  was  all- 
important. 

Among  the  many  preachers  w^ho  came  to  those  quarterly  meetings  I 
may  mention  the  Light  brothers — John,  Casper  and  Joseph.  I  have  a  dis- 
tinct recollection  of  the  first  two  of  these.  John  Light  was  father  of  the  Rev. 
Dr.  Ezekiel  Light,  late  chaplain  of  the  Soldier's  Home  at  Dayton,  Ohio.  "He 
entered  the  ministry  in  1830,  and  w^as  an  able  expositor  of  the  Word,  very 
argumentative,  and  sometimes  w^hen  needed  used  w^it  and  sarcasm,  and 
withal  quite  eloquent.  He  was  repeatedly  chosen  presiding  elder  of  the 
eastern  district  of  the  Conference.  Casper,  his  brother,  w^as  tw^o  years 
younger,  and  began  to  preach  the  same  time  that  his  brother  John  did.  His 
preaching  was  of  an  inspiring  character,  and  generally  enthused  the  hearers 
w^ith  the  hopes  and  joys  of  his  themes.  He  w^as  very  gifted  in  singing,  knew^ 
nearly  all  the  hymns  in  the  book,  and  had  a  magnificent,  well-trained  voice. 
In  person  he  w^as  above  six  feet,  well-proportioned  and  erect  in  carriage,  and 
both  genial  and  impressive  in  personal  appearance.  He  served  the  Confer- 
ence both  as  pastor  and  presiding  elder.  He  died  August,  1857,  almost 
fifty  years  old."  His  coming  at  the  quarterly  meetings  was  hailed  with  de- 
light, for  good  preaching  and  grand  singing  w^ere  then  assured.  When  he 
led,  followed  by  Isaac  Neidig,  Samuel  Eberly  and  the  Balmers,  they  made  it 
ring.  At  these  meetings  the  Lord's  Supper  was  celebrated,  and  the  example 
of  washing  the  saints'  feet  was  observed.  All  the  exercises  were  highly 
spiritual. 

During  Rev.  Fohl's  pastorate  a  Conference  was  held  in  Shopp's  Church, 
which  opened  February  21,1 844.  Bishop  Erb  presided,  assisted  by  Rev. 
John  Russel.  This  Conference  placed  on  record  the  death  of  Father  John 
Neidig  and  Rev.  James  Sutton.  Neidig  was  a  grand  man  and  a  most  ex- 
cellent preacher.  He  had  a  clear,  musical  voice,  his  movements  were  grace- 
ful and  expressive,  and  his  knowledge  of  the  Bible  extensive.  "Entering 
upon  the  work  in  the  morning  of  life,  he  endured  all  the  burdens  without 
shrinking,  and  when  the  day  declined  and  the  snowy  locks  covered  his  head, 
he  labored  on  still  with  undiminished  zeal;  and  when  the  last  hour  came  it 
still  found  him  in  the  field."  He  had  often  preached  the  truth  in  the  house 
where  now  his  demise  was  officially  announced.  Among  those  ordained  we 
find   the    name    of    Rev.  John  A.  Sand.     He  was   a   native  of  Alsace,  and    in 


32  LANDMARKHISTORYOFTHE 

youth  spoke   the    French   language  with   ease.     He  was   a  splendid   German, 
preacher,  and  did  a  grand  work.     His  greatest  achievement,  however,  was  in 
his  long  pastorate  of  the  old  Otterbein  Church  in  the  city  of  Baltimore.  There 
hundreds   of   excellent   Germans  w^ere   brought   into   the   Church    under   his 
labors. 

At  this  Conference  ten  new  preachers  were  received.  In  this  number 
was  Simon  Noll,  who  for  more  than  half  a  century  was  an  efficient  worker  in 
the  ministerial  ranks  of  the  East  Pennsylvania  Conference.  He  w^as  alike 
know^n  in  the  rich  valleys  of  Lebanon,  Lancaster,  •  Berks,  and  in  the  coal 
mountains  of  Schuylkill  and  Lehigh.  He  labored  in  regions  w^here  others 
dreaded  to  go.  Casper  Light  and  John  Russel  were  elected  presiding  elders. 
I  w^ell  recollect  that  assemblage.  All  came  either  on  horseback  or  in  gigs. 
My  father  had  his  share  of  the  horses,  and  the  stables  w^ere  filled.  All  the 
other  members  w^ho  lived  on  farms  had  their  quota.  During  the  preceding' 
year  my  father  had  built  a  new^  brick  house  on  the  farm,  and  though  com- 
pleted was  not  yet  occupied  as  a  residence ;  the  old  building,  which  was 
commodious,  being  still  used.  The  new  building,  w^ith  stoves  in  the  rooms, 
furnished  excellent  facilities  for  the  meetings  of  committees  and  for  purposes 
of  consultation.  There  w^as  a  cellar  under  the  whole  house,  and  two  of  my 
older  sisters  engaged  me  to  unbolt  the  outside  cellar  door,  and  when  the 
committee  met  for  the  examination  the  girls  stealthily  entered,  and  at  the 
inside  stairs  could  easily  hear  w^hat  went  on  above.  My  sisters,  who  were 
young  and  inquisitive,  found  considerable  amusement  in  the  scrutinizing  ex- 
amination to  which  a  young  candidate  was  subjected  with  regard  to  his 
matrimonial  expectance.  I  will  not  say  that  the  questioning  was  pressed 
beyond  the  bounds  of  politeness,  but  I  am  certain  that  young  ministers  at 
this  time  would  regard  such  a  process  of  testing  qualification  w^ith  dis- 
favor. 

After  meals  the  preachers  who  stayed  at  our  house,  and  some  others 
w^ho  gathered  in,  would  meet  in  the  rooms  of  the  new  house  and  discuss  in 
their  conversation  the  matters  of  interest  in  the  church  work.  To  my  youth- 
ful mind  it  was  delightful  to  hear  them  talk.  1  still  recall  a  conversation 
■which  the  Rev.  John  Denig,  who  joined  Conference  in  1839,  had  with  Rev. 
Nehemiah  Altman,  who  was  converted  from  Judaism  to  Christianity  in  the 
year  1837,  with  regard  to  God's  ancient  people.  Mr.  Altman  proved  a  very 
efficient  and  faithful  minister  of  the  Gospel.  His  parents  and  friends  in 
Europe  were  wealthy  and  influential,  and  when  they  learned  of  his  reception 
of  Christianity  they  disowned  and  disinherited  him.  But  he  served  the 
Church  and  the  cause  of  Christ  well,  and  died  in  enjoyment  of  the  Saviour's 
love.  The  large  fine  church  on  the  corner  of  Scott  and  St.  Peters  Streets, 
Baltimore,  stands  as  a  monument  of  his  untiring  industry  and  resourceful 
capabilities. 

Rev.  Jacob  Smith  Kessler  took  charge  of  Shopp's  Station  in  1 846.  He 
was  an  earnest  preacher  and  a  most  faithful  pastor.  The  interests  of  his 
circuit  were   pressed  with    indefatigable   zeal    during   the   term  of  his  incum- 


UNITED    BRETHREN    CHURCH  33 

bency.  According  to  his  biographer,  when  he  entered  upon  his  work  "he 
had  to  encounter  the  heresies  of  Millerism  and  Materiahsm. "  By  the  latter 
I  suppose  he  means  the-  teachings  of  George  Storrs,  w^hich  had  gained  some 
foothold.  These  doctrines  he  openly  attacked  in  the  pulpit  in  two  sermons 
delivered  in  the  morning  and  evening  of  the  same  day,  though  against  the 
protest  of  some  of  his  own  weak-hearted  members,  which  sermons,  he  states, 
put  "the  Materialists  to  route."  I  think  the  statement  given  in  the  biography 
is  slightly  overdrawn.  It  is  certain  that  some  of  the  members  were  in  sym- 
pathy with  the  new-fangled  views,  but  they  were  not  the  efficient  workers. 
The  members  upon  w^hom  the  hopes  of  the  Church  rested  w^ere  never 
swerved  from  their  former  position,  and  maintained  their  integrity  without 
faltering.  It  is  always  well  for  a  congregation  to  knov^  upon  whom  reliance 
can  be  placed  in  time  of  emergency. 

In  the  latter  part  of  this  year  a  "precious  revival  broke  out,  which  re- 
sulted in  scores  of  conversions  and  accessions  to  the  Church.  The  congre- 
gation became  unusually  large  and  interesting ;  and  harmony  and  religious 
prosperity  prevailed."  Rev.  Kessler's  biographer  states :  "The  fall  and  w^inter 
seasons  of  1 846  were  very  unhealthy  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Susquehanna 
River.  This  greatly  increased  Mr.  Kessler's  pastoral  labors.  He  visited, 
some  days,  as  high  as  twenty  families,  and  found  sick  persons  in  almost  every 
house,  and  in  some  from  four  to  six  prostrated,  mostly  with  chills  and  fever. 
Much  of  his  time  was  occupied  also  in  attending  funerals,  there  being  many 
deaths  within  the  bounds  of  his  field." 

The  first  year  closed  in  peace,  and  the  charge  enjoyed  prosperity.  He 
w^as  reappointed  for  the  year  1847,  and  this  year  was  noted  for  great  revivals 
on  his  circuit.  Both  at  Shopp's  Church  and  at  West  Fairview  revivals  were 
in  progress  at  the  same  time,  and  continued  for  months  and  to  such  an  extent 
that  he  did  not  take  time  to  attend  the  sessions  of  the  Annual  Conference, 
w^hich  appointed  him  to  serve  a  third  year,  1  848,  w^hich  he  spent  in  the  most 
abundant  labors.  When  his  three  years  drew  to  a  close,  which  then  w^as  the 
positive  limit  of  a  pastorate,  he  felt  that  God  had  owned  his  labors.  He  left 
the  record  "that  he  was  never  more  loth  to  bid  adieu  to  a  field  of  labor,  when 
the  time  came  to  leave,  than  to  do  so  to  this  one." 

Mr.  Kessler  was  a  man  of  very  pleasant  address,  in  personal  appearance 
w^as  quite  dignified  ;  while  his  apparel  was  plain,  it  was  exceedingly  neat  and 
clean  ;  his  smoothly  shaven  face  and  white  cravat  revealed  the  fact  that  he 
w^as  not  of  a  slovenly  nature.  His  tender  sympathy  was  evident  w^hen  he 
approached  to  greet  any  one.  Even  the  unconverted  loved  him,  had  faith  in 
his  piety,  and  manifested  toward  him  the  highest  respect  and  deference.  He 
often  visited  my  parents  and  family  during  his  pastorate  of  three  years.  He 
came  as  a  minister,  and  never  gave  any  silly  exhibitions  of  senseless  talk,  his 
demeanor  being  that  of  a  conscientious,  dignified,  kind-hearted,  prudent  ser- 
vant of  God,  whose  cardinal  object  was  to  win  souls.  For  him  1  cherish  the 
highest  sentiments  of  personal  respect,  and  I  esteem  him  as  one  chosen  by 
the  Master. 


34  LANDMARKHISTORYOFTHE 

During  his  three  years'  pastorate  he  held  two  campmeetings  in  a  large 
woods  one-fourth  of  a  mile  below  Shiremanstown.  The  w^oods  extended 
from  the  Simpson  road  to  the  State  road,  and  the  one-half  belonged  to  David 
Shopp's  farm,  and  the  other  half  to  Jacob  Shopp's  farm.  My  parents  had  a 
tent  each  time,  and  I  was  there  a  great  deal.  A  number  professed  conversion 
and  pow^erful  preaching  characterized  the  meetings. 

At  one  of  these  camps  Bishop  Russel  delivered  a  discourse  long  remem- 
bered in  that  vicinity.  The  Church  of  God,  or  Winebrennerians,  had  for 
some  time  published  a  church  paper  in  Shiremanstown  called  the  "Gospel 
Publisher,"  which  was  somewhat  radical  and  sometimes  made  indiscriminate 
attacks  on  others.  Bishop  Russel,  in  one  of  his  visits  to  Shopp's  Church,  had 
spoken  words  in  his  sermon  which  w^ere  regarded  by  the  proprietors  of  the 
paper  as  rather  caustic,  and  hence  he  was  scored  in  the  paper  with  equal 
severity.  But  now^,  at  the  camp,  where  thousands  were  assembled,  the 
Bishop's  time  came.  His  tall  form  arose  in  the  pulpit;  slowly  he  announced 
his  text,  and  w^ith  knit  brow^  and  austere  countenance  he  began  in  German : 
'Ich  bin  boese,  du  bist  boese,"  and  then,  with  a  sweet  smile,  "alle  sind  boese." 
I  need  not  say  that  he  took  the  audience  w^ith  perfect  surprise.  Every  hearer 
had  thought  that  by  the  word  "boese"  he  used  the  primary  meaning,  angry ; 
but  they  instantly  saw^  the  theological  term  "depraved"  w^as  meant.  That  day 
the  Bishop  was  in  his  glory.  He  certainly  mowed  a  broad  swathe.  He  sub- 
jected his  critics  to  an  excoriation  not  soon  to  be  forgotten.  The  sermon 
throughout  was  a  masterpiece  of  logic  and  rhetoric  and  unction.  Opposers 
were  disconcerted,  and  his  friends  and  brethren  w^ere  highly  elated  and 
pleased. 

At  this  campmeeting  Rev.  Martin  Lohr,  a  resident  of  Hanover,  w^as  pres- 
ent. He  had  moved  to  Hanover  from  Littlestown  in  1829,  and  in  1847  was 
instrumental  in  building  a  church  on  Abbottstown  Street,  near  the  square, 
w^hich  w^as  dedicated  October  24th  of  that  year.  This  church  was  burned  in 
1878,  in  a  conflagration  that  destroyed  other  buildings,  but  his  widow^,  Mrs. 
Lohr,  rebuilt  the  church  at  her  own  expense  during  the  same  year.  Rev. 
Martin  Lohr  and  his  wife  were  among  the  best  people  our  denomination 
had.  He  early  ceased  his  itinerating  w^ork,  and  gave  himself  to  our  Church's 
w^elfare  at  home.  He  engaged  in  banking  and  v/as  successful.  He  left  at 
the  time  of  his  death  a  large  estate,  and  as  he  had  no  children  living  he  gave 
a  large  part  of  it  to  our  home  work  and  to  foreign  missions. 

The  Rev.  Alexander  Owen  was  appointed  to  Shopp's  Station  in  1 849, 
and  reappointed  in  1850  and  1851.  Hence  this  charge  enjoyed  his  services 
three  years.  He  was  a  man  of  acknowledged  ability.  He  was  tall,  strongly 
built,  and  naturally  gifted  with  a  powerful  constitution ;  had  a  well-formed 
head,  with  rather  dark  complexion  and  with  a  physiognomy  indicating  firm- 
ness. In  the  pulpit  his  bearing  was  unaffected  and  dignified.  In  social  life 
there  was  a  reserve  mingled  with  simplicity  and  courtesy  of  manner,  in- 
creased by  a  pleasant  smiling  countenance.  As  a  speaker  he  was  effective 
and  ornate.     His  pulpit  productions  were  clear,  solid  and  finished.     In  debate 


UNITEDBRETHRENCHURCH  35 

his  powers  as  a  polemic  were  displayed  to  their  best  advantage.  Then  he 
was  cool,  keen,  logical  and,  when  the  occasion  demanded,  w^as  sarcastic.  In 
1850  he  had  a  public  discussion  on  baptism  at  Shiremanstown  with  Elder 
Jacob  Keller,  of  the  Winebrennerians,  which  lasted  six  days,  the  first  five 
days  being  given  to  the  mode,  and  the  last  day  to  the  subjects.  The  debate 
was  held  in  the  Bethel,  and  attracted  large  audiences.  He  bore  himself 
throughout  like  a  master,  and  after  that  no  one  referred  to  him  as  a  man  to 
be  trifled  w^ith.  He  won  for  our  Church  and  ministry  an  elevated  place  in 
the  public  esteem  never  before  enjoyed. 

1  had  the  pleasure  of  being  present  at  the  debate,  and  also  heard  some 
of  the  best  public  efforts  of  his  life.  In  1855  I  listened  to  an  address  of  his 
before  the  trustees,  professors  and  students  of  Mount  Pleasant  College  ;  and 
in  1857  to  his  discourse  on  the  province  of  the  pulpit.  The  first  part  he 
delivered  in  the  morning  and  the  second  part  in  the  evening  of  the  same 
day.  This  I  heard  him  deliver  at  Mount  Pleasant,  and  repeat  at  Madison,  in 
Westmoreland  County.  At  that  time  he  w^as  president  of  the  Mount  Pleasant 
College.  1  also  heard  his  baccalaureate  sermon  before  the  graduating  class 
of  Otterbein  University,  Ohio,  in  1 859,  when  president  of  that  institution  of 
learning.  These  -were  all  prepared  with  the  greatest  care,  w^ritten  out  in  full, 
accurately  committed  to  memory,  and  then  delivered  w^ith  rhetorical  skill  and 
eloquence. 

To  the  great  loss  of  the  Church  he  fell  a  victim  to  excessive  labor.  His 
once  powerful  constitution  impaired,  rapidly  ran  towards  a  termination,  and 
while  on  a  visit  for  his  health  to  the  Cumberland  Valley,  where  he  had  spent 
so  many  years  of  his  life,  he  suddenly  died  at  Newville,  in  the  house  of  John 
Hursh,  who  w^as  one  of  our  most  highly  esteemed  brethren,  at  the  early  age 
of  forty-one  years,  mourned  by  all  those  who  knew^  him.  He  is  buried  in 
the  cemetery  at  Oakville. 

While  he  w^as  pastor  in  charge,  a  Sabbath  School  was  organized  at  Shopp's 
Church. 

Rev.  Jacob  C.  Smith,  by  appointment,  took  charge  of  this  circuit  in  1852. 
Some  years  before  he  had  preached  his  first  sermon  in  this  church.  Those 
who  heard  him  then  already  predicted  that  he  was  going  to  be  a  good 
preacher.  At  all  events,  he  became  a  very  successful  and  efficient  pastor, 
and  served  the  Church  well.  But  there  was  such  a  strong  demand  for  his 
services  in  other  places  that  he  w^as  allowed  to  remain  but  one  year,  and 
then,  contrary  to  all  desires,  he  was  moved,  and  Rev.  Samuel  Enterline  was 
appointed  to  Shopp's  Station  in  1853.  He  had  seen  much  service  in  the 
Church,  and  w^as  very  efficient  in  building  up  societies  and  promoting  re- 
vivals of  religion.  He  was  an  effective  preacher  in  the  German  language, 
but  was  very  little  exercised  in  the  English,  which  militated  greatly  against 
his  usefulness  on  this  field,  where  the  English  had  become  predominant.  His 
work  will  continue.  To  him  the  Church  will  ow^e  a  debt  of  constant  gratitude 
for  his  wonderful  labors.  Not  to  speak  of  other  places,  today  in  York 
County,  Penn'a,  and  Carroll  County,  Maryland,  where  we  have  good  churches 


36  LANDMARKHISTORYOFTHE 

and  numerous  members,  all  are  the  outgrowth  of  his  planting.  His  friendly, 
smiling  face,  his  open-hearted  cordiality,  won  the  hearts  of  the  people  ;  his 
prayers  and  his  discourses  brought  them  to  Christ,  and  while  now  he  is  in 
heaven,  his  work  is  going  on  here  on  earth.  When  old  and  disabled  he  died 
on  a  farm  which  he  owned  in  Adams  County,  and  is  buried  in  the  rear  of 
our  church  in  Hampton.  The  precious  truths  which  he  had  preached  to 
others  w^ere  his  solace  and  joy  in  his  last  hours,  and  now^  he  is  in  the  enjoy- 
ment of  the  bliss  which  is  promised  by  the  Saviour  himself  to  those  who  are 
faithful  unto  the  end. 

On  the  26th  of,  January,  1854,  during  his  incumbency,  the  Pennsylvania 
Conference  held  its  session  at  Shopp's  Church.  This  was  rather  a  remarkable 
gathering.  Bishop  Glossbrenner  presided,  and  Bishop  Russel  assisted.  Bish- 
op Henry  Kumler  and  Rev.  John  C.  Bright  came  from  Ohio,  and  for  the  first 
time  in  the  history  of  the  denomination  presented  the  interests  of  our  new- 
Foreign  Missionary  Society.  They  w^ere  men  of  great  personal  magnetism, 
grand  preachers,  and  very  interesting  speakers.  The  result  was  that  enthusi- 
asm was  elevated  to  the  highest  pitch,  and  the  missionary  interests  w^ere 
introduced  in  the  best  possible  light.  John  C.  Bright  was  one  of  our  most 
agreeable  and  enterprising  men  in  Ohio.  1  was  about  him  a  great  deal  in 
1857  and  1858,  and  think  he  w^as  one  of  the  most  pleasant  and  pious  men  I 
ever  knew^.  He,  w^ith  Bishop  Kumler,  held  forth  the  missionary  interests  in 
such  a  manner  in  our  Conference  that  a  large  number  of  preachers  and  lay- 
men were  induced  to  become  life-directors  and  life-members.  Rev.  Jonathan 
Holmes  presented  the  interests  of  Mount  Pleasant  College  at  this  Conference. 
He  had  been  pastor  of  the  United  Brethren  Church  at  Mount  Pleasant  the 
year  before.  While  at  the  East  Pennsylvania  Conference  he  vv^as  employed 
to  take  charge  of  the  United  Brethren  Church 'in  Harrisburg,  and  soon  after 
entered  on  his  duties  as  pastor  of  that  congregation.  The  church  edifice  w^fis 
a  fine  brick  building  on  Front  Street,  near  the  entrance  of  the  new^  bridge. 
The  ground  now^  is  occupied  by  a  palatial  residence.  The  United  Brethren 
had  purchased  the  property  from  the  Baptists. 

This,  the  last  Conference  at  Shopp's  Church,  gave  evidence  of  much 
vigor.  Bishops  Kumler  and  Russel  w^ere  at  their  best,  and  some  serious  people 
suspected  that  they  furnished  rather  more  merriment  and  amusement  than 
w^as  needed  at  a  religious  assemblage.  Bishop  Kumler,  in  point  of  original 
peculiarity  and  talent,  possessed  features  rarely  found.  A  pow^erful  man 
intellectually,  physically  and  morally,  he  was  able  to  amuse  and  entertain.  At 
one  time  his  auditors  would  laugh,  and  next  they  w^ould  w^eep.  This  Con- 
ference was  spoken  of  for  a  good  while  after  all  over  this  part  of  the  country. 
The  lively  debates  on  most  of  the  subjects  presented  for  consideration,  and 
the  excellent  preaching,  both  in  English  and  German,  kept  up  a  constant 
interest  from  beginning  to  end.  But  this  w^as  the  last  session  held  in  Shopp's 
Church. 

During  the  twenty-seven  years  that  this  edifice  stood,  four  Conferences 
w^ere  held  there,  being  in  the  years  1  830,  w^hen  Bishop  Kumler  presided ;  in 


.UNITED    BRETRHEN    CHURCH  37 

1835,  when  Bishop  Brown  presided;  in  1844,  w^hen  Bishop  Erb  presided;  and 
in  1854,  w^hen  Bishop  Glossbrenner  presided.  Here  first  I  heard  William  B. 
Raber,  w^hen  a  young  man,  preach.  He  then  already  gave  evidence  of  his 
wondrous  pow^ers  as  a  preacher,  and  of  those  rare  talents  that  placed  him  in 
the  front  rank  as  an  orator  both  in  the  English  and  German  languages. 

In  this  church  also  Rev.  Z.  A.  Colestock  often  proclaimed  the  Word 
w^hen  a  young  man,  in  his  clear  and  logical  style,  to  the  great  edification  of 
the  people.  Here,  too,  William  R.  Rhinehart,  the  pulpit  orator  and  inimitable 
singer,  charmed  his  hearers  w^ith  the  eloquence  of  his  speech  and  his  hymns 
of  praise.  Among  the  presiding  elders  w^ho  officiated  in  the  old  church  1 
mention  but  one,  the  Rev.  George  Miller,  w^hose  v/ords  rolled  forth  like  an 
avalanche.  Of  him  I  may  say  in  the  words  of  another :  "What  holy  love 
burned  in  his  heart  and  beamed  from  his  countenance !  At  the  sound  of  his 
voice  the  penitential  tear  stole  down  the  cheek  of  the  transgressor,  and  the 
shout  of  praise  burst  from  the  lips  of  the  children  of  God." 

Migration  to  the  West  diminished  the  membership  considerably  for  some 
years.  Among  those  w^ho  moved  away  I  may  mention,  in  1  846,  Jacob  Fretz 
and  family  to  Illinois;  also  George  and  Rebecca  Darr.  In  1850  Isaac  Neidig, 
w^ho  had  sold  his  farm,  moyed  w^ith  his  family  to  low^a.  In  the  spring  of  1  85  1 
Christian  Balmer  and  his  family  vs^ent  to  Ohio,  w^hile  Jacob  Nisley  and  his 
family  went  to  Crawford  County,  Penn'a.  In  1852  Henry  Miller  and  his 
wife,  beloved  by  the  v^hole  Church,  moved  to  low^a;  and  so  the  depletion 
w^ent  on,  and  others  had  to  be  brought  in  to  fill  up  the  ranks. 

At  the  last  Conference  held  in  Shopp's  Church  in  January,  1854,  Rev. 
William  B.  Wagner  w^as  appointed  preacher  in  charge.  He  vv^as  a  man  of 
ability,  possessed  a  large  library  of  choice  books  on  historical  and  theological 
subjects,  and  etijoyed  reading.  He  w^as  a  tall,  muscular  man  of  prepossessing 
appearance.  His  sermons  were  rich  in  thought,  strong  in  argument,  abound- 
ing in  ideas  for  reflection,  and  often  of  great  length  in  the  delivery.  As  a 
vocalist  he  excelled.  Few^  men  in  the  Church  could  sing  as  he.  With  a  rich, 
sweet,  full  voice,  perfectly  trained,  he  w^ould  pour  forth  the  grandest  songs  in 
the  most  enchanting  strains.  To  hear  him  and  Jacob  C.  Smith  sing  a  duet  at 
church  or  at  campmeeting  vv^as  an  event  to  be  remembered. 

During  his  incumbency  the  old  church  w^as  taken  down  and  the  material, 
such  as  the  stove,  the  pew^s,  and  w^hat  lumber  could  be  utilized,  w^ere  conveyed 
to  Shiremanstown  to  be  used  in  the  erection  of  a  nev/  church  building.  Some 
of  the  members  did  not  favor  this  project,  and  it  required  considerable  per- 
suasion to  conciliate  them.  Bishop  Erb  was  the  first  man  that  proposed  the 
movement.  More  than  a  year  before  he  told  me  that  if  w^e  hoped  to  succeed 
the  church  must  be  in  town.  I  responded  that  it  would  be  impossible  to  get 
the  consent  of  the  leading  members ;  to  w^hich  he  replied  that  he  had  already 
privately  spoken  to  Brother  John  Shopp,  and  he  vs^as  willing;  so  also  some  of 
the  others  w^ho  were  expected  to  bear  the  chief  part  of  the  burden.  And 
John  Shopp,  Samuel  Eberly  and  Henry  Batdorf  led  off,  assisted  by  Benjamin 
Erb  and  by  others,  because  they  believed   it  to  be  essential   to  the  future  sue- 


38  LANDMARKHISTORYOFTHE 

cess  of  the  congregation  ;  now  fifty  years  show  their  judgment  to  have  been 
correct.  The  work  of  John  Shopp,  Samuel  Eberly  and  Henry  Batdorf  can 
hardly  be  over-estimated.     They  were  always  at  their  post  of  duty. 

While  the  new  church  vv^as  being  built,  the  congregation  had  secured  the 
use  of  the  Bethel  for  preaching  services,  and  in  the  winter  a  revival  of  religion 
was  carried  on  there.  It  began  under  the  preaching  of  Rev.  William  Beighel, 
of  the  Allegheny  Conference,  who  came  on  a  visit.  He  had  a  magnetic  elo- 
quence when  aroused  in  his  public  efforts  which  was  remarkable,  and  a  num- 
ber of  penitents  presented  themselves  publicly  for  prayer.  While  Rev. 
Wagner  had  charge,  other  ministers  of  different  denominations  delivered 
sermons,  and  quite  a  number  professed  conversion.  But  w^hen  I  look  back 
and  recall  the  mode  of  operation  in  the  commingling  of  dissimilar  elements, 
the  natural  interest  each  denomination  had  in  its  own  success  in  "stringing 
up  the  fish,"  and  th'=:  singular  way  of  displaying  brotherly  love,  1  am  convinced 
that  Omnipotent  power  wrought  the  conversion  of  souls,  and  must  exclaim, 
"Lord,  thou  canst  work,  and  no  man  can  hinder."  Nearly  all  of  those  who 
then  took  part  have  passed  over,  and,  I  think,  are  now  in  the  same  glorious 
heaven. 

Mr.  Wagner  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing  his  church  dedicated  in  the  sum- 
mer of  1855.  He  had  worked  faithfully,  and  on  the  other  parts  of  his  circuit 
he  gave  efficient  service.  He  had  considerable  opposition  from  w^ithout  be- 
cause of  his  aggressive  method  in  pushing  forward  the  interests  committed 
to  him. 

When  the  Conference  convened  in  Baltimore,  Maryland,  in  January, 
1856,  he  was  elected  presiding  elder,  and  for  some  cause  the  Stationing  Com- 
mittee made  no  appointment.  So  the  presiding  elder  designated  William 
Owen  as  preacher ;  but  after  the  lapse  of  a  few  months  he  ceased  his  minis- 
trations, and  a  Methodist  local  preacher  of  West  Fairview,  whose  name  I  do 
not  now  recall,  preached  for  the  people.  As  the  Latin  gives  it,  "Equus  sagi- 
natur  in  oculo  domini,"  and  by  the  close  of  the  Conference  year  Shopp's 
Station  was  at  rather  a  low  condition.  The  membership  seemed  to  have 
little  enthusiasm,  and  that  was  not  much  to  be  wondered  at. 

In  January,  1857,  the  Rev.  John  Dickson  came  to  this  charge,  and  had 
for  his  assistant  Rev.  Samuel  Deatrick.  Ten  preaching  places  had  to  be 
served  every  tw^o  weeks.  The  congregation  at  Shiremanstow^n  had  then  one 
hundred  and  twelve  members,  and  when  he  took  charge,  on  the  first  Sabbath, 
at  Shiremanstown,  the  church  elected  Conrad  Keim  and  Benjamin  Longe- 
necker  class  leaders,  and  William  Balsley  steward.  These  all  were  most 
excellent  Christian  men.  Benjamin  Longenecker  was  a  most  devoted  and 
pious  man,  and  always  found  at  his  post.  He  really  was  a  very  efficient 
member  in  the  church,  and  served  it  faithfully.  Everything  now  seemed  to 
assume  a  new  appearance,  and  the  members  felt  encouraged.  One  of  the 
most  important  movements  was  the  building  of  a  new  church  in  Mechanics- 
burg,  which  became  necessary  to  accommodate  the  growing  congregation  at 
that  place. 


UNITED    BRETHREN    CHURCH  ■  39 

In  1858  Rev.  John  Dickson  had  for  his  assistant  Rev.  Hiram  Y.  Hummel- 
baugh,  and  the  work  was  cared  for  in  the  most  punctiUous  manner.  In  July 
of  that  year,  w^hen  home  at  close  of  college  w^ork,  I  took  the  junior  preacher's 
place  one  Sabbath  w^hile  he  w^ent  aw^ay  on  a  visit.  On  the  Saturday  preced- 
ing the  Shiremanstown  Sunday  School  had  a  picnic  at  Silver's  Spring,  and  w^e 
invited  the  Presbyterian  minister,  resident  there,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Morris,  to  ad- 
dress the  children  and  friends,  w^hich  he  did  in  a  most  appropriate  style.  We 
enjoyed  our  dinner  in  the  grove,  and  had  a  barrel  of  good  sweet  cider,  w^hich 
Father  Batdorf  had  specially  made  of  summer  apples  for  the  occasion.  On 
our  return  home,  at  the  pressing  request  of  Father  Batdorf,  w^e  drove  up 
through  the  main  street  of  Mechanicsburg,  and  returned  by  the  Simpson 
road,  in  order  to  show  ourselves  and  to  let  the  children  see  the  town.  Our 
retinue,  composed  of  w^agons  and  rockaw^ays,  presented  quite  a  formidable 
array.  Of  the  remarks  made  by  some  of  the  citizens  of  that  borough, 
especially  when  they  saw^  a  young  man  of  our  company  sitting  astride  of  our 
empty  cider  barrel  on  a  w^agon,  I  v/ill  not  here  make  a  record. 

At  the  upper  end  of  the  town  I  left  the  company  that  w^ent  home  rejoic- 
ing, and  I  v/alked  out  about  tw^o  miles  in  the  direction  of  Stumptown  to  the 
residence  of  my  cousin,  Levi  Eberly,  w^ho  lived  in  the  centre  of  two  good 
farms  w^hich  he  ow^ned.  His  house  was  a  splendid  large  brick  mansion  of 
about  sixty  feet  front,  and  a  yard  of  large  shade  trees,  wrhere  he  had  placed 
benches  for  the  accommodation  of  hearers,  w^hile  the  minister  had  a  place  to 
stand  on  the  large  porch.  That  Saturday  evening,  after  supper,  I  preached 
to  a  good-sized  audience,  and  next  morning  I  came  with  the  family  to  the 
new^  church  in  Mechanicsburg,  w^here  I  again  spoke.  After  dinner  I  w^alked 
to  Shiremanstown,  and  on  my  w^ay  met  Rev.  Dickson,  who  was  on  the  road 
to  preach  in  Mechanicsburg  in  the  evening,  w^hile  I  w^as  to  be  at  Shiremans- 
town. My  object  in  giving  this  account  is  to  show^  you  how^  the  work  w^as 
then  carried  on,  and  the  foundation  laid  for  w^hat  w^e  now^  have.  On  the 
same  Sabbath  there  w^as  tw^ice  preaching  in  both  Shiremanstow^n  and  Mechan- 
icsburg, but  the  preacher  at  the  one  place  alternated  w^ith  the  other.  You 
know^,  they  liked  variety  in  the  preaching,  and  keeping  the  preacher  in  mo- 
tion w^as  conducive  to  his  health. 

The  Conference  of  I  859  convened  at  Mechanicsburg,  in  the  new  church, 
and  reappointed  Rev.  John  Dickson,  with  Daniel  Eberly  for  colleague.  At 
Shire manstow^n  and  Mechanicsburg  there  w^as  tv^ice  preaching  every  other 
Sabbath,  and  at  Mount  Zion  Church,  West  Fairview,  Wormleysburg,  The 
Marsh,  Fishing  Creek  and  Yocumtown  once  every  two  weeks.  We  also 
added  Gorgas'  School  House  and  Shepherdstow^n  for  occasional  services. 
Each  one  generally  preached  three  times  on  Sabbath,  and  met  the  appoint- 
ments regularly. 

Early  in  October  a  revival  was  started  at  the  Marsh  appointment,  which 
w^as  continued  for  some  w^eeks.  In  November  the  second  revival  began  in 
the  Mechanicsburg  Church,  w^hich  extended  into  the  next  month  and  proved 
quite  successful.     Towards  the  close  of  December  another  revival  began  at 


40  LANDMARKHISTORYOFTHE 

the  Salem  Church  in  the  Fishing  Creek  Valley,  in  York  County,  which  lasted 
till  the  close  of  the  Conference  year  in  the  following  January.  These  inter- 
esting meetings  added  not  only,  members  to  the  local  churches,  but  also  exerted 
a  very  great  influence  for  good  among  the  people  in  general.  The  year 
throughout  w^as  prosperous ;  peace  and  harmony  prevailed  over  the  w^hole 
circuit,  and  the  members  felt  encouraged.  All  of  the  preaching  places  being 
served  with  regularity;  and  the  pastoral  visitation  of  the  charge  received  very 
careful  attention,  which  v^as  equally  shared  by  both  preachers,  w^ho  "put  in 
full  time."  The  kind  of  service  rendered  made  possible  the  success  of  after 
years. 

The  Conference  of  1860  reappointed  Rev.  John  Dickson,  and  Jacob  F, 
Wilt  assistant.  Brother  Wilt  w^as  a  most  excellent  young  man.  He  had  pur- 
sued his  studies  at  Otterbein  University,  and  w^as  a  very  graceful  and  pleasant 
speaker.  But  in  a  few^  years  he  fell  a  victim  to  consumption,  and  his  useful 
life  w^as  brought  to  a  termination.  During  this  year  the  Mount  Olivet  Church, 
a  mile  and  a  quarter  below^  New^  Cumberland,  -was  built  and  dedicated  to  the 
service  of  God.  This  w^as  the  outgrow^th  of  the  revival  at  Marsh  School 
House. 

The  four  years  during  w^hich  Rev.  John  Dickson  had  charge  of  Shopp's 
Station  he  had  three  churches  built.  At  Mechanicsburg  and  Mount  Zion, 
tw^o  in  one  year,  1858,  and  Mount  Olivet  in  York  County  in  1860 — four 
years  of  real  prosperity  and  substantial  grov/th.  He  combined  all  the  ele- 
ments of  a  good  pulpit  speaker  with  those  of  an  untiring  pastor.  His  undi- 
vided attention  w^as  given  to  this  one  w^ork.  He  visited  many  families,  being 
a  v/elcome  guest  v^herever  he  called,  v/hether  in  the  houses  of  the  poor  or  in 
the  residences  of  the  rich.  No  one  in  the  family  ever  heard  from  his  lips  a 
vulgar  or  trifling  expression.  There  w^as  nothing  morose  or  austere  in  his 
bearing.  While  cheerful  and  pleasant,  he  alw^ays  maintained  a  Christian 
dignity  and  gentlemanly  refinement  in  society.  In  the  pulpit,  as  you  all 
know,  he  w^as  able.  He  possessed  a  pov/er  peculiar  to  himself.  While  his 
preaching  met  the  wants  and  enjoyment  of  the  most  logical  and  cultured,  it 
also  gave  edification  and  comfort  to  the  most  humble  hearer.  The  four  years 
of  his  ministry  at  Shopp's  Station  remain  a  monument  to  his  honor.  From 
1869  to  1893,  a  term  of  twenty-four  years,  he  served  as  bishop  in  the  Church, 
and  did  splendid  service,  and  now^  at  the  age  of  four-score  and  four  years, 
with  good  mental  faculties  when  we  would  expect  him  to  be  leaning  on  his 
staff  waiting  for  the  chariots  of  Israel,  he  is  still  able  to  proclaim  the  truths  of 
salvation. 

With  his  pastorate  in  1 860  I  close  this  prelection.  The  territory  which 
the  circuit  then  embraced  has  now  six  different  charges  w^ith  as  many  pastors, 
showing  the  real  and  solid  growth  of  these  years.  I  can  recall  but  three 
ministers  now^  living  that  delivered  sermons  in  Shopp's  Church,  east  of  Shire- 
manstow^n.  They  are  Bishop  Dickson,  Rev.  Dr.  Colestock  and  myself.  But  I 
preached  only  once  in  the  old  building:  that  w^as  in  February,  1854,  several 
months  before  its  demolition.     It  has  been  my  aim  in  these  addresses  to  give 


UNITED    BRETHREN    CHURCH  41 

in  consecutive  order  and  in  succinct  form  a  definite  view  of  the  workers  and 
their  work  on  this  charge  during  six  decades;  and  now  the  period  from  1861 
to  the  present  may  be  the  field  for  another's  investigation  and  presentation. 
To  him  we  give  the  opportunity  to  speak  of  the  stirring  scenes  that  were 
enacted  in  the  streets  of  Shiremanstown,  when  citizens  had  arms  stored  in 
this  building,  and  when,  on  the  last  Sabbath  of  June,  1863,  the  mounted 
cavalry  of  the  Confederate  army  dashed  forward,  and  the  ringing  of  the  bell 
of  this  church  by  a  Union  sentry,  who  had  used  the  belfry  as  a  watch-tower, 
very  nearly  caused  trouble. 

But  these  days  of  agitation  have  passed,  the  wounds  inflicted  are  healing 
over ;  a  glorious  peace  has  come,  and  now  holds  together  a  united  land  in 
the  bonds  of  civil  and  gospel  liberty. 

There  are  still  some  with  us  who  were  present  when  this  church  was 
first  opened  for  divine  service  nearly  half  a  century  ago  ;  but  that  number 
has  become  small.  The  majority  have  crossed  over,  and  are  now  in  the 
Church  Triumphant — secure  from  all  pain  and  sorrow.  "Jerusalem  which  is 
above  is  free,  which  is  the  mother  of  us  all."  Taking  the  Church  as  a  whole, 
though  it  is  part  on  earth,  yet  the  greater  part  of  its  members  are  in  heaven. 
Those  on  earth  are  toiling  hard  ;  those  above  are  at  rest.  Here  they  are 
struggling  in  the  contest ;  there  they  enjoy  the  victory.  The  grace  which 
God  gives  to  his  people  leads  to  glory.  His  followers  on  earth  are  heirs, 
though  not  yet  in  possession.  The  love  which  has  glorified  those  who  are 
now  in  the  Jerusalem  above  is  the  same  love  which  God  sheds  abroad  in  the 
hearts  of  the  faithful  who  in  this  world  are  striving  for  the  mastery.  "Be  thou 
faithful  unto  death,  and  I  will  give  thee  a  crown  of  life"  is  the  positive  assur- 
ance of  the  Omnipotent  Jehovah  to  those  striving  to  possess  the  Kingdom. 
Of  the  pious  and  faithful  people  who  worshipped  in  this  sanctuary  during 
those  years,  and  who  have  died  in  the  faith,  we  can  say: 

"They  are  gone  to  the  grave!   but  their  work  shall  not  perish, 
That  work  w^hich  the  spirit  of  wisdom  hath  blest; 
His  strength  shall  sustain  it,  his  comforts  shall  cherish, 
And  make  it  to  prosper,  though  they  are  at  rest." 


THE  ILLUSTRATIONS 


N  the  lectures  the  following  homes  are  mentioned :  First,  Home  of 
John  Shopp,  Sr.,  located  about  one  mile  northeast  of  Shiremans- 
town,  on  a  large,  rich  farm.  Visited  by  Newcomer  March  24,  I  800. 
Second,  Home  of  Christian  Erb,  w^est  side  of  Susquehanna,  di- 
rectly opposite  the  State  buildings  at  Harrisburg.  May  be  seen 
from  the  cars,  in  crossing  the  bridge. 

Third,  Home  of  Elizabeth  Hershey  Erb,  w^idow  of  Christian  Erb,  located 
in  Wormleysburg. 

Fourth,  Home  of  Daniel  Sherban,  situate  on  the  turnpike  leading  from 
Harrisburg  to  Chambersburg,  one  mile  north  of  Shiremanstown,  on  a  fertile 
farm  at  present  ow^ned  by  Simon  Eberly. 

Fifth,  Home  of  Samuel  Eberly,  Sr.,  located  half  a  mile  north  of  Shire- 
manstow^n,  on  a  farm  of  205  acres  of  limestone  land  near  the  Peace  Church. 
This  farm  adjoined  the  farm  of  Shopp  on  the  east,  and  that  of  Sherban  on  the 
north. 

Sixth,  Friedens  Kirch,  or  Peace  Church,  is  located  about  a  third  of  a  mile 
north  of  Shiremanstow^n,  fronting  on  the  Trindle  road,  now^  a  Telford  State 
road.  Here  the  Manor  Line  road  crosses  the  former,  and  this  is  the  road 
seen  in  the  picture.  Toward  the  close  of  the  eighteenth  century  the  members 
of  that  denomination  became  strong  and  influential,  and  according  to  Rupp's 
"History  of  Cumberland  County,"  a  German  Reformed  congregation  w^as 
organized  by  the  Rev.  Anthony  Hautz.  "On  the  26th  of  May,  1  797,  the  con- 
gregation obtained  deeds  for  land  on  w^hich  to  build.  In  1  798  the  church 
w^as  erected  under  the  superintendence  of  the  follow^ing  building  committee, 
viz.  :  Friedrich  Lang,  Jonas  Rupp,  Leonard  Sw^artz  and  the  Rev.  Anthony 
Hautz."  According  to  Newcomer,  the  cornerstone  was  laid  June  1 2,  I  798, 
w^hen  he  w^as  present,  and  "Geeting  w^as  requested  to  deliver  the  first  dis- 
course, and  preached  with  uncommon  pow^er  from  Isaiah  28:  16.  The  Rev. 
Mr.  Hautz  concluded  the  ceremony."  Again,  a  sacramental  meeting  com- 
menced November  9,  1  799,  at  the  Church  of  Peace,  w^hen  he,  and  Draksel, 
Boehm  and  Geeting  were  the  guests  of  John  Jonas  Rupp.  On  Sabbath,  No- 
vember 1  0,  Geeting  delivered  the  first  discourse  ;  Neidig  followed  him.  Boehm 
and  Geeting  distributed  the  bread  and  wine. 

Rev.  George  Adam  Geeting  at  this  date  w^as  still  a  minister  in  the  Ger- 
man Reformed  Church,  and  continued  so  till  1  804. 

"In  the  year  1820  Rev.  John  Winebrenner  settled  in  Harrisburg,  Penn'a, 
as  a  minister  of  the  German  Reformed  Church,  and  took  charge  of  four  con- 
gregations, one   in   town   and   three   in   the    country."     One  of   these  country 

42 


UNITED  BRETHREN  CHURCH 


43 


appointments  was  Peace  Church.  A  conflict  arose  with  regard  to  revivals  of 
rehgion.  The  account  of  the  trouble  is  given  in  Rupp's  "History  of  Denomi- 
nations." Rev.  Winebrenner,  on  page  171,  further  states:  "The  most  violent 
opposition  and  persecution  arose  from  that  quarter,  aided  by  not  a  few  of  the 
ministers  of  their  Synod  themselves.  This  state  of  things  lasted  for  the  space 
of  about  five  years,  and  then  resulted  in  a  separation  from  the  German  Re- 
formed Church  in  1825." 

When  Winebrenner  left  he  took  with  him  quite  a  number  of  the  good 
members  of  that  congregation,  persons  who,  for  financial  ability  and  honor, 
stood  high  in  the  community,  and  thereby  inflicted  a  lasting  injury  on  that 
congregation. 


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49 


NOTES  ON  LECTURES 


HE  object  of  adding  these  notes  is,  in  the  first  place,  to  give 
a  more  comprehensive  view  of  the  preaching  places  men- 
tioned in  the  lectures.  The  appointments,  ten  in  number, 
which  constituted  the  Shopps  charge  at  the  close  of  1  860, 
have  in  half  a  century  branched  out  into  six  stations  and 
two  circuits.  And  in  the  second  place  to  give  some  addi- 
tional information  with  regard  to  the  devoted  and  earnest  men  who  labored 
so  zealously  in  the  founding  and  establishing  of  our  Zion  in  this  part  of  the 
country.     They  certainly  are  worthy  of  honorable  mention. 

In  the  third  place,  it  seems  proper  to  preserve  a  record  of  the  laity,  of 
those  faithful  men  and  pious  women  who  years  ago  were  willing  to  enroll 
their  names  in  the  church  and  enlist  in  the  cause  of  the  Master.  It  is  to  be 
hoped  that  it  will  be  pleasing,  to  some  at  least,  to  see  the  names  of  their 
ancestors  recorded  among  the  people  of  God.  The  bonds  of  Christian  fel- 
lowship are  strong  and  when  properly  reinforced  by  divine  grace  are  indis- 
soluble. 


Wormleysburg,  situated  on  the  west  bank  of  the  river,  opposite  Harris- 
burg,  was  laid  out  by  John  Wormley  in  the  autumn  of  1815.  The  bridge 
which  first  spanned  the  Susquehanna  at  this  place,  built  by  Theodore  Burr, 
was  opened  for  travel  October  16,  1816.  Hence,  when  Christian  Erb  moved 
on  his  farm  in  the  year  1810,  there  was  neither  town  nor  bridge.  The  river 
had  to  be  crossed  by  a  ferry.  The  State  Capital  was  moved  from  Lancaster 
to  Harrisburg  in  1812,  which  added  new  interest  to  this  part  of  the  common- 
wealth. The  house  in  which  Mr.  Erb  resided,  and  in  which  religious  services 
were  conducted,  is  still,  in  1910,  standing  and  in  use.  It  is  a  commodious 
building.  The  trolley  line  passes  a  short  distance  in  front.  The  station, 
called  "Kimmels,"  is  on  the  farm,  midway  between  West  Fairview  and  Worm- 
leysburg. In  that  house  Samuel  Eberly  and  Catharine  Erb  were  married  in 
1816.. 

Some  time  after  the  death  of  Christian  Erb,  in  1  820,  his  widow  moved  to 
Wormleysburg.     The  house  she  occupied  and  in  which  she  maintained_regu- 

50 


UNITED    BRETHREN    CHURCH  51 

lar  preaching,  is  also  standing  at  this  date.  It  is  on  the  front  street,  near  the 
new  bridge.  After  the  demise  of  Mrs.  Erb,  during  Kesler's  pastorate,  preach- 
ing services  were  held  in  different  buildings  in  the  town  by  the  ministers  of 
Shopp's  Station.  Rev.  William  B.  Wagner,  in  1854-5,  used  a  small  brick 
church  in  the  tow^n ;  and  vv^hen  I  was  the  "colleague"  of  Rev.  J.  Dickson  in 
1859,  we  had  regular  services  there,  and  later  in  a  plain,  good-sized  school- 
house.     The  work  was  kept  up,  and  not  allowed  to  die  out. 

West  Fairview  was  founded  by  Abraham  Neidig  in  1815.  It  is  situated 
at  the  confluence  of  the  Conodoguinet  Creek  and  the  Susquehanna  River. 
For  some  years  this  w^as  called  Neidigstow^n.  Tv/o  hundred  years  ago  an 
Indian  village  occupied  this  ground  and,  according  to  "Watson's  Annals,"  from 
1 700  to  I  720  the  wigwams  of  the  Delawares,  Susquehannas  and  roving 
Shawnees,  branches  of  the  Huron-Iroquois  family,  were  here  situated. 

A  farm  adjoining  the  town  was  sold  by  Jacob  Neidig  in  the  year  1838  to 
Frederick  May,  who  moved  thereon  in  March,  1 839.  Mr.  May  was  born  in 
Lancaster  County,  Penn'a,  one  mile  east  of  Elizabethtown,  August  9,  1  799. 
He  w^as  a  most  excellent  Christian  gentleman  and  a  member  of  the  United 
Brethren  Church.  As  soon  as  he  became  settled  in  his  new  home  he  estab- 
lished preaching  in  his  house,  and  also  in  the  school-house  of  the  town. 
Here  Rev.  John  Fohl,  when  pastor  on  Shopp's  Station,  organized  a  United 
Brethren  class  in  the  year  1  843  ;  and  proceeded  to  build  a  church,  which  was 
used  for  many  years,  until  the  increased  membership  rendered  a  new  and 
much  larger  church  necessary. 

Frederick  May  w^as  a  devout  and  very  studious  man,  a  close  and  careful 
reader  of  the  Bible.  In  the  year  1835  he  was  admitted  as  a  member  of  the 
Pennsylvania  Annual  Conference,  and  was  ordained  in  1 838.  He  died 
April  9,  1857,  and  is  buried  in  the  cemetery  at  Enola.  His  son,  Daniel  G. 
May,  was  an  active  and  very  useful  member  of  this  congregation  for  many 
years.  From  him  I  received  the  information  with  regard  to  the  time  of  his 
father's  early  work  in  this  town.  I  was  personally  acquainted  with  Father 
May ;  heard  him  preach  frequently  at  Shopp's  Church,  and  he  often  visited 
at  my  father's  home.     We  all  esteemed  him  highly. 

The  Mount  Zion  Church,  located  on  the  State  Road,  four  miles  west  of 
Fairview  and  about  seven  miles  north  of  Shiremanstown,  was  one  of  the 
appointments  on  Shopp's  Station.  Rev.  John  Fohl  preached  in  the  house  of 
Daniel  Bretz  and  wife,  and  organized  a  class.  After  a  while  a  few  families 
moved  from  Shopp's  Church  over  to  a  place  called  by  Fohl  the  "North  Moun- 
tain, '  among  w^hom  w^ere  George  Bovvers  and  wife,  1845,  and  Daniel  Kime 
and  wife,  1 849.  During  Rev.  Wagner's  pastorate  services  were  held  in  a 
small  frame  church  on  a  back  road  near  the  mountain,  wrhich,  I  believe,  was 
w^recked  in  a  wind-storm.  For  a  w^hile  there  was  preaching  in  a  school-house 
a  mile  or  two  further  up  the  State  Road,  near  the  residence  of  Brother  Schall. 
Then   the   Mount   Zion   Church  was  built.     A  good  class  of  people  attended 


52  LANDMARK     HISTORYOFTHE 

services,  and  good  members  belonged  to  this  church ;  among  them  I  recall 
Father  Quigley  and  wife,  whose  sons,  Rev.  J.  X.  Qyigley  and  Rev.  William 
Quigley,  v/ere  here  converted  and  became  useful  ministers  in  the  denomina- 
tion. Also  Shumberger's  family  and  Samuel  Holtz,  w^ho  resided  at  Holtz's 
Mill,  on  a  stream  near  w^here  it  flow^s  in  the  Conodoguinet.  At  his  house 
preparation  was  made  v/hen  there  -was  to  be  baptism  by  immersion  in  the 
creek.  He  w^as  a  student  at  the  Mount  Pleasant  College  about  1856,  v/hen 
he  became  acquainted  w^ith  a  most  estimable  lady  of  that  tow^n,  w^hom  he 
afterwards  married  and  brought  to  his  home  here. 

The  Mechanicsburg  United  Brethren  Church  w^as  built  during  the  first 
year's  pastorate  of  Rev.  John  Dickson.  For  some  years  previously  the  United 
Brethren  ministers  on  Shopp's  Station  held  services  in  the  Old  Union  Church 
on  Main  Street,  and  I  recollect  a  service  held  there  on  Sabbath,  when  Rev. 
William  Miller  preached  a  powerful  sermon.  This,  I  think,  w^as  during  Kes- 
ler's  pastorate.  When  Rev.  William  Wagner  was  the  preacher,  a  w^eek  even- 
ing meeting  vs^as  held  in  the  "Old  Union,  "  w^hen  a  number  of  the  Shiremans- 
town  members  attended.  They  w^ent  on  Father  Batdorf's  w^agon,  used 
specially  for  such  occasions.  Then  there  was  preaching,  communion  and 
feet-w^ashing.  I  was  no  church  member  at  the  time,  but  driver  of  the  team. 
My  father  and  Brother  Batdorf  sat  immediately  in  my  rear,  and  I  could  hear 
their  conversation,  even  amid  the  talking  of  the  rest,  that  was  going  on.  I 
had  observed  during  the  meeting,  when  the  invitation  was  given  to  come  out 
to  the  feet-w^ashing,  that  Batdorf  was  the  first  out  and  on  the  end  of  the  bench 
w^here  the  ceremony  w^as  to  begin,  and  in  this  conversation  on  the  w^agon, 
carried  on  in  German,  he  told  my  father  that  at  feet-washing  he  always  went 
out  first,  for  then  the  w^ater  is  still  pure,  and  some  people  have  unhealthy 
feet.  My  father  responded,  that  is  a  good  plan ;  had  not  thought  of  that 
before. 

Here  1  may  add  that  Brother  Batdorf,  vv^ho  resided  on  a  farm  near  Shire- 
manstow^n,  kept  a  splendid  w^agon,  constructed  especially  to  convey  the 
brethren  and  sisters  to  campmeetings  and  revivals.  His  horses  w^ere  the  best 
that  could  be  obtained.  This  he  kept  up  to  the  time  of  his  death.  No  better 
man  was  to  be  found  in  that  part  of  the  country. 

At  this  time  Father  Jacob  Coover  was  the  chief  member  of  the  United 
Brethren  Church  in  that  town.  He  was  a  splendid  man  physically,  well  pro- 
portioned, pleasing  address,  w^ith  pleasant  open  countenance,  and  a  fluent 
speaker.  He  w^as  regarded  as  one  of  the  most  conscientious,  pious  and  hon- 
orable men  in  the  county.  He  is  the  man  that  had  our  ministers  come  to 
Mechanicsburg  and  open  up  the  work  there.  Of  him  I  have  the  most  pleas- 
ant recollections.  The  w^ords  of  encouragement  which  he  gave  me  in  the 
first  year  of  my  ministry  I  can  never  forget.  His  presence  in  church  was  an 
inspiration  to  the  minister,  and  the  members  felt  good  to  see  him.  Such  a 
man  gives  character  to  church  work,  especially  at  its  inception.     His  life  and 


UNITEDBRETHRENCHURCH  53 

work  stand  as  "a  monument  of  praise  to  God."  During  the  year  1859  we 
had  a  revival  meeting  in  this  town,  which  began  on  the  18th  of  November,  at 
which  a  goodly  number  of  people  were  converted.  Brother  Colestock,  who 
resided  in  the  town,  preached  several  times.  Rev.  Jonathan  Weaver,  who  at 
that  time  was  representing  Otterbein  University,  came  to  this  revival  on 
Friday,  the  25th  of  November,  and  preached  that  evening,  also  Saturday 
evening,  twice  on  the  Sabbath,  and  Monday  evening,  the  28th.  His  powerful 
sermons  made  a  great  impression.  People  came  to  the  church  to  hear  him. 
The  meeting  was  continued,  and  quite  a  number  of  excellent  people 
united  with  the  church.  From  my  diary  I  have  the  record  :  "Wednesday,  De- 
cember 2  1 ,  preached  in  Mechanicsburg  ;  two  penitents — converted.  Closed 
the  meeting,  which  has  been  continued  over  a  month." 

Shiremanstown  Church  of  the  United  Brethren  in  Christ  was  started  in 
1854;  finished  and  dedicated  in  1855.  When  Shopp's  Church  was  erected 
in  1827  the  town  was  composed  of  a  dozen  buildings.  The  Cumberland 
Valley  Railroad  was  not  built  till  ten  years  later.  But  had  the  sentiments 
prevailed  then  as  they  do  now,  the  church  would  have  been  erected  in  the 
new  town.  Prof.  I.  Daniel  Rupp,  the  author  of  the  histories  of  some  twenty- 
eight  Counties  of  Pennsylvania,  and  who  did  more  than  any  other  man  of 
the  State  in  preserving  and  collating  early  historical  facts,  was  born  on  a  farm 
which  now  borders  on  the  borough  limits.  In  his  "History  of  Cumberland 
County"  he  writes  of  this  town :  "The  first  house  erected  here  was  built  by 
Daniel  Sherbahn,  executor  of  George  Schebely,  for  the  widow  of  the  deceased, 
in  the  summer  of  1813.  When  the  first  house  was  built,  all  on  the  south  side 
of  the  road  was  one  dense  forest.  In  1814  John  Davis  erected  the  house  now 
occupied  by  Dr.  Mateer.  Both  these  are  on  the  north  side  of  the  road.  A 
few  years  after,  Henry  Zearing  erected  one  on  the  south  side  of  the  road, 
now  owned  by  George  Rupp,  Jr.,  and  occupied  as  a  public  house.  Shortly 
afterwards  Martin  Zearing  erected  a  brick  house  north  of  the  road.  George 
Sipe,  Isaac  Goshert  and  Christian  Shroll  each  erected  a  house  soon  after  the 
brick  one  had  been  built.  About  the  years  1827  and  1828  several  more  by 
Jacob  Rupp  and  others,  when  it  was  called  Shiremanstown,  after  Daniel 
Shireman,  deceased,  who  held  considerable  property  here  at  the  time." 

About  1849  Dr.  Mateer  sold  his  house,  built  by  John  Davis  in  1814,  to 
Bishop  Erb,  with  the  adjacent  lots  of  ground.  Bishop  Erb  made  this  his 
residence,  with  the  exception  of  about  five  years,  when  he  resided  in  York 
till  the  time  of  his  death  in  1883.  On  the  adjoining  lots  of  this  property  now 
stand  the  parsonage  and  church  of  the  United  Brethren  in  Christ.  He  was 
the  prime  mover  in  re-location,  which  encountered  considerable  opposition. 
The  church  was  dedicated  to  divine  service  in  the  summer  of  1855,  I  think  in 
July.  Rev.  William  Wagner  was  the  pastor  in  charge.  Rev.  John  Dickson, 
then  presiding  elder,  preached  the  dedicatory  sermon.  A  large  congregation 
was  present,  and  a  "money  effort"  was  made  to  raise  "what  was  back."  This 
met  with  very  ordinary  success.     The    plea   for   not   responding   more   freely 


54  LANDMARK    HISTORYOFTHE 

was  that  some  of  the  members  were  able  to  pay  for  the  church  themselves, 
w^hich  I  suppose  was  true.  At  any  rate,  a  few^  of  them  did  pay  the  balance  in 
a  short  time,  and  felt  none  the  w^orse  for  it. 

When  the  stone  church  half  a  mile  below^  the  tow^n  w^as  demolished  the 
nice  limestone  in  the  walls  were  used  in  the  construction  of  the  basement  in 
the  new^  edifice ;  all  the  old  lumber  that  could  be  utilized  w^as  w^orked  in. 
The  pew^s  of  the  old  church  had  high  backs.  They  had  been  made  by  James 
Neiman,  w^ho  w^as  a  carpenter  and  later  a  successful  preacher.  About  six 
inches  of  these  tops  w^ere  taken  off  for  strips  on  new^  seats  in  the  basement. 
The  pew^s  in  the  main  audience  room  w^ere  painted  blue,  and  the  contractor 
thought  the  paint  was  perfectly  hard  and  set.  But  there  happened  to  come  a 
few^  days  of  sultry  w^eather,  and  the  humidity  moistened  the  paint  to  such  a 
degree  as  to  cause  the  clothing  of  the  occupants  to  adhere  to  the  benches. 
You  can  readily  imagine  w^hat  effect  this  had  on  the  feelings  of  persons  w^ho 
carried  the  marks  on  their  clothing  to  their  homes.  Unevangelical  expressions 
of  displeasure  w^ere  uttered  by  some.  Even  the  pew^s  gave  evidence  that  they 
had  been  occupied,  for  some  lady  left  a  piece  of  light  gauze  fabric  sticking 
fast.  One  old  brother  facetiously  remarked  that  if  an  enterprising  agent  for 
paint-erasing  soap  had  been  stationed  outside,  his  sales  to  the  departing 
congregation  w^ould  have  amounted  to  more  than  the  collection  raised  inside. 
But  that  church  edifice  has  served  its  purpose  for  more  than  half  a  century ; 
though  nearly  all  of  the  w^orshippers  of  that  day  have  passed  over. 

The  Gorgas  School  House,  about  tvv^o  miles  east  of  Shiremanstow^n,  had 
a  basement  adapted  to  public  gatherings,  and  w^as  served  v/ith  preaching  on 
Saturday  evenings,  w^ith  an  occasional  Sabbath  service.  This  w^as  carried 
w^ith  Shiremanstown. 

Shepherdstown  Union  Church,  two  miles  south  of  Mechanicsburg,  vs^as 
supplied  alternately  with  Saturday  evening  and  Sunday  afternoon  preaching. 
The  members  and  people  at  these  places  appreciated  the  services. 

Yocumtow^n,  in  York  County,  two  miles  from  the  Fishing  Creek  Church, 
vv^as  regularly  served.  A  very  genteel  and  intelligent  class  of  people  repre- 
sented this  place.  The  Yocums,  Fortenbaughs,  Keisters,  and  others. 
Services  were  held  in  rather  a  good-sized  building  or  hall  which,  I  think,  at 
one  time  had  been  used  for  school  purposes. 

The  "Marsh  Church"  w^as  a  partially  deserted  building  erected  soon  after 
the  Revolutionary  War,  and  intended  to  serve  the  double  object  of  a  school 
house  and  a  union  meeting  house.  It  answ^ered  a  good  purpose  for  the  hold- 
ing of  funeral  services  when  there  w^ere  burials  in  the  adjacent  graveyard. 
The  founders  had  stipulated  that  "no  services  vs^ere  to  be  held  during  candle- 
light." But  they  had  their  day,  and  others  entered  the  stage  of  action  with 
different  ideas,  and  oil  gave  light.     This  building  accommodated  a  good-sized 


UNITEDBRETHRENCHURCH  55 

congregation.  The  benches  were  without  "backs,"  and  often  standing  room 
was  at  a  premium.  On  special  occasions  as  many  stood  outside  as  were 
inside  the  house.  Located  in  a  fertile  agricultural  part  of  York  County,  it  was 
one  of  the  three  appointments  in  that  county,  served  regularly  every  two 
weeks,  and  was  little  over  a  mile  distant  from  New  Cumberland. 

By  referring  to  my  diary  for  1859,  I  find  that  Rev.  J.  Dickson  preached 
and  held  communion  services  here  on  Sabbath,  October  2d,  and  I  preached 
at  Mount  Zion,  Wormleysburg  and  West  Fairview.  "On  Monday  morning, 
October  3,  I  went  to  the  'Marsh,'  where  1  met  Brother  Dickson.  1  preached 
in  the  evening  at  'candle  light'  from  Acts  24  :  24-25,  and  he  exhorted  ;  had 
five  mourners. "  This  was  the  start  of  a  good  work.  October  I  6th  I  preached 
at  the  "Marsh"  from  Romans  6  :  16,  17;  received  fourteen  into  church  fel- 
lowship. The  pastor-in-charge  had  received  some  previously,  and  we  took 
others  later. 

Thursday,  November  3d,  was  the  day  set  apart  to  baptize  by  immersion. 
For  this  service  we  engaged  Bishop  Erb,  a  man  of  large  experience  in  this 
mode  of  baptism,  having,  as  administrator,  often  officiated,  was  well  prepared 
for  the  service.  At  that  time  he  resided  in  Shiremanstown.  We  met  in  the 
old  edifice  in  the  morning,  where  Erb  preached  in  German  and  Dickson  in 
English.  We  then  drove  to  the  residence  of  J.  F.  Hursh,  a  farmer,  who  re- 
sided in  a  fine  large  limestone  mansion  near  the  Yellow  Breeches  Creek.  It 
was  an  ideal  place  for  the  ceremony,  and  there  Bishop  Erb  baptized  twelve 
candidates.  The  day  was  very  pleasant,  and  all  seemed  to  appreciate  the 
solemnity  of  the  occasion. 

Among  the  candidates  there  was  a  large  woman  from  the  mountain,  of 
immense  muscular  power.  It  was  said  that  she  could,  with  ease,  set  a  barrel 
of  cider  in  a  wagon,  and  for  years  no  one  who  knew  her  desired  to  incur  her 
ill-will  At  the  meeting  she  was  soundly  converted,  and  took  a  "big  shout," 
in  which  she  gave  evidence  of  her  physical  strength.  We  told  Bishop  Erb, 
who  was  a  very  strong,  active  man,  that  if  she  should  get  happy  he  would 
have  a  big  proposition  on  hand.  But  he  was  equal  to  the  occasion.  When 
she  arose  out  of  the  water  and  was  about  ready  to  start  up,  I  heard  the  Bishop 
say  to  her  nicely,  in  rather  a  low  tone :  "Sister,  hold  up  till  you  get  out  of  the 
stream."  She  obeyed,  but  made  it  lively  for  those  who  received  her  at  the 
margin. 

Of  this  meeting  my  diary  gives  the  closing  record  :  Thursday,  November 
10,  "Preached  at  the  Marsh,  Luke  7  :  48-50.  All  of  our  mourners  got  religion. 
Had  a  grand  time  till  twelve  o'clock,  midnight.  Closed  the  meeting  for  good, 
having  lasted  for  five  and  a  half  w^eeks. " 

The  result  of  this  revival  was  the  firm  establishment  of  the  United  Breth- 
ren Church  in  that  part  of  the  country,  and  led  to  the  building  of  a  new 
church,  and  finally  the  New  Cumberland  Church. 

Rev.  John  Dickson  had  for  his  colleague  the  next  year  J.  F.  Wilt.  The 
plans  of  the  previous  year  were  carried  into  execution,  and  a  substantial  brick 
church  was   erected   on   land  which   Brother  Jacob   Carver  gave   us  for  that 


56  LANDMARK     HISTORYOFTHE 

purpose.  The  new  building,  erected  in  1 860,  was  dedicated  the  same  year 
by  Bishop  Glossbrenner  and  called  the  Mount  Olivet  Church.  The  pastor, 
with  Abraham  B.  Hursh  and  Francis  Hollar,  constituted  the  building  com- 
mittee. 

Salem  Church,  Fishing  Creek  Valley,  in  York  County,  also  was  part  of 
Shopp's  Station.  Prof.  George  R.  Prowell,  Curator  and  Librarian  of  the 
Historical  Society  of  York  County,  a  native  of  that  place,  and  in  his  youth  an 
attendant  at  church  services,  in  his  "History  of  York  County,"  in  volume  1 , 
page  968,  writes:  "In  1843  Rev.  John  Fohl,  a  clergyman  of  the  United  Breth- 
ren Church,  was  invited  to  the  Fishing  Creek  Valley  by  David  Fisher.  He 
was  pastor  of  a  church  at  Shiremanstown,  in  the  lower  end  of  Cumberland 
County.  After  he  had  conducted  a  revival,  a  congregation  was  organized 
and  Salem  Church  was  built.  Since  the  erection  of  this  church  it  has  been 
the  centre  of  religious  interest  to  the  entire  community.  This  church  lies  in 
the  centre  of  the  Fishing  Creek  Valley.  This  was  the  first  building  erected 
as  a  house  for  religious  worship  within  the  limits  of  Fairview  Township.  At 
a  meeting  of  the  Quarterly  Conference,  held  in  this  valley  April  22,  1844, 
John  S.  Prowell,  Henry  B.  Kauffman  and  Jacob  Miller  were  appointed  trus- 
tees. Mr.  Prowell  served  in  that  capacity  for  a  period  of  forty-five  years, 
until  his  death."  David  Fisher  also  served  as  trustee  until  his  demise.  Prow- 
eJl  and  Fisher  were  close  friends  to  each  other,  always  present  when  duty 
required. 

The  first  visit  that  I  made  to  this  church  and  valley  was  in  the  month  of 
February,  1857.  Rev.  John  Dickson,  who  had  been  appointed  to  the  charge, 
was  kept  home  by  sickness  in  his  family,  and  Rev.  Daniel  A.  Tawney,  a 
fellow  student  at  Mount  Pleasant  College,  who  was  visiting  me  at  my  parents* 
home  in  Shiremanstown,  and  I  were  called  on  to  meet  the  appointments. 
With  Bishop  Erb's  team  we  set  out  on  Saturday  afternoon  and  went  to  New 
Cumberland,  and  to  the  home  of  Brother  Kauffman,  a  good  Christian  gentle- 
man who,  on  account  of  our  youthful  appearance,  looked  on  us  with  some 
misgivings,  as  he  told  me  some  years  later.  After  supper  we  went  to  an  old 
school-house,  and  Tawney  preached  a  splendid  sermon.  Though  young,  he 
had  preached  three  years  on  the  Manchester  (Md.)  and  Perry  circuits,  in  the 
Pennsylvania  Conference,  before  he  went  to  college.  He  was  an  exceedingly 
pleasant  conversationalist,  and  he  became  quite  a  favorite  with  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Kauffman. 

On  Sabbath  morning  we  were  at  the  "Marsh."  There  I  preached.  Took 
dinner  at  the  elder  Drayers.  Mother  Drayer  told  us  that  when  we  came  into 
the  church  she  had  no  idea  that  we  boys  were  preachers.  But  she  was 
pleased.  (Years  after  I  was  her  pastor  twice.)  After  dinner  we  drove  over 
the  mountain  to  Fishing  Creek  Valley,  and  put  up  at  the  spacious  residence 
of  Brother  David  Fisher.  We  were  received  with  great  cordiality,  and  found 
the  place  first  class  in  every  respect.  The  "old  folks,"  girls  and  boys  were 
very  friendly.     That  evening  Brother  Tawney  preached,  and  the  people  were 


UNITED    BRETHREN    CHURCH  57 

delighted.  On  Monday  morning  we  set  out  for  home,  and  when  we  arrived 
at  Shiremanstown  feh  glad  we  had  learned  to  know  some  of  the  good  people 
on  that  part  of  the  charge. 

Here  I  may  add  that  Rev.  D.  A.  Tawney  graduated  at  Otterbein  Univer- 
sity, Ohio,  in  the  class  of  1  860,  and  w^hile  recently  preparations  were  being 
made  to  celebrate  the  fiftieth  anniversary  of  his  class  graduation  next  June, 
the  sad  intelligence  came  that  he  had  died  on  the  14th  of  December,  1909, 
at  St.  Paul,  Minn.,  after  a  long  and  successful  pastorate.  He  w^as  the  uncle  of 
Hon.  James  Tawney,  now^  a  member  of  Congress,  and  was  a  native  of  Adams 
County,  Penn'a. 

On  Friday,  December  9,  1859,  while  Brother  Dickson  and  I  were  en- 
gaged in  pastoral  visitation,  during  the  revival  season  at  Mechanicsburg,  a 
messenger  called  on  me  at  the  house  of  Father  Jacob  Coover  to  ask  me  to 
preach  a  funeral  sermon  next  day  in  the  Fishing  Creek.  I  consented,  w^ent 
to  my  home  in  Shiremanstow^n,  had  the  blacksmith  to  sharpen  shoes  on  my 
horse,  and  that  evening  made  the  record  in  my  diary :  "This  is  the  first  time 
in  three  w^eeks  that  I  sleep  in  my  home."  Started  early  next  morning,  as  1 
had  tw^elve  miles  to  go.  Arrived  at  the  house  in  good  time,  and  officiated 
at  the  funeral  of  Miss  Garretson,  who  died  on  the  8th  inst.  aged  19  years,  9 
months  and  29  days.  Text,  Ecclesiastes  9:5,  "For  the  living  know  that  they 
shall  die."  This  was  the  first  time  that  I  had  learned  to  know  any  of  this 
household.  The  funeral  was  largely  attended,  and  a  deep  feeling  prevailed 
because  of  the  early  death  of  a  young  lady  who  w^as  highly  esteemed  by  the 
entire  community. 

The  Garretson  family  was  among  the  first  settlers  of  the  Fishing  Creek 
and  Redland  Valleys ;  being  in  that  great  Quaker  migration  which  came,  at 
an  early  date  from  Chester  County,  and  the  town  of  Newberry  was  laid  out 
by  an  ancestor.  Elijah  Garretson,  the  father  of  this  family,  was  an  intelligent 
and  sociable  gentleman,  brought  up  in  the  faith  of  ihe  Quakers,  and  had 
been  an  efficient  county  official  for  years.  The  mother  came  from  an  old 
and  highly  respected  family  in  that  valley.  I  thus  became  acquainted  with 
a  family  that  afterward  I  learned  to  esteem  very  highly.  Everybody  seemed 
to  sympathize  with  them  in  their  bereavement. 

After  the  funeral  went  to  Yocumtown,  where  I  preached  that  evening. 
Next  day,  Sabbath,  preached  at  the  Marsh  in  the  morning,  and  in  the  evening 
at  Fishing  Creek  Church.  On  Monday  returned  home  ;  went  to  Mechanics- 
burg, where  I  preached  again  at  our  revival  services  that  evening. 

On  Sunday,  December  25th,  Rev.  Dickson  had  communion  services  in 
Fishing  Creek  Church,  and  in  the  evening  started  revival  services.  That  day 
I  met  my  appointments  at  Mount  Zion,  Fairview  and  Wormleysburg.  My 
diary  makes  the  following  record :  "Monday,  December  26,  went  direct 
to  Fishing  Creek  to  join  Brother  Dickson.     Tonight  I  preached  from  Acts  1  7  : 


58  LANDMARK    HISTORY    OF    THE 

30,  'And  the  times  of  this  ignorance  God  winked  at,  but  now  commandeth 
all  men  everywhere  to  repent.'  " 

Four  mourners:  Daniel  Rutter,  Elijah  Garretson,  Miss  Garretson  and 
Miss  Fisher.  This  caused  great  excitement  in  that  neighborhood  because  of 
the  age  and  standing  of  the  first  two.  Elijah  Garretson  was  known  over  the 
country;  was  Prothonotary  of  York  County  for  three  years  (1851-52-53),  and 
had  held  other  offices  of  trust.  Daniel  Rutter  was  an  enterprising  farmer  and 
a  York  County  Representative  in  the  State  Legislature  of  1855-6.  He  had 
professed  to  be  a  Universalist,  dabbled  some  in  spiritualism,  w^as  fond  of 
public  controversies,  and  seemed  to  have  ideas  peculiarly  his  own.  He  w^as 
about  the  last  man  in  the  valley  whom  you  would  expect  to  come  out  to  a 
mourners  bench.  He  w^as  converted,  and  at  once  took  a  very  active  part  in 
the  meeting,  and  joined  church.  Quarterly  Conference  afterwards  gave  him 
license  to  preach,  and  he  employed  his  talents  to  a  good  purpose  till  the 
Master  called  him  home  to  receive  his  rew^ard. 

This  meeting  continued  till  January  1 6,  1 860,  when  w^e  closed  to  go  to 
Conference. 

Rev.  Wm.  S.  H.  Keys,  of  the  Allegheny  Conference,  made  a  visit  to  Shire- 
manstown  on  Friday,  February  4,  1859.  He  was  a  great  pulpit  orator,  a  most 
remarkable  man.  He  began  to  preach  when  a  mere  boy,  and  astonished 
every  one  who  heard  him  by  his  marvellous  gifts.  He  w^as  a  "born  preacher." 
Tall,  slim,  with  high  forehead,  and  rather  muscular,  he  attracted  attention  by 
his  noble  bearing.  While  he  w^as  the  pastor  of  the  Mount  Pleasant  United 
Brethren  Church  in  Westmoreland  County,  I  w^as  received  into  membership 
in  December,  1852.  As  I  esteemed  him  very  highly,  his  visit  w^as  much 
appreciated. 

Saturday,  the  5th,  we  spent  together  in  my  study.  He  was  preparing  a 
lecture,  and  I  w^as  w^orking  on  my  sermon.  That  day  I  received  instructions 
from  him  in  the  preparation  of  sermons  w^hich  gave  direction  to  all  my  sub- 
sequent w^ork  in  the  public  ministry.  My  diary  record  is :  "February  6,  Sun- 
day: Rev.  Brother  Keys  and  1  went  to  the  Marsh,  v/here  he  preached  from 
Rev.  21:  2,3.  Drove,  after  services,  directly  to  Brother  Fisher's  for  dinner. 
He  preached  in  the  Fishing  Creek  Church  in  the  afternoon.  His  subject, 
'Salvation.'  Evening  he  preached  at  Yocumtown  on  the  'Resurrection.' 
Stayed  over  night  with  Brother  Yocum  and  family.  The  people  who  heard 
his  sermons  that  day  were  perfectly  delighted.  His  discourses  were  lengthy, 
but  the  hearers  were  so  charmed  and  absorbed  that  they  did  not  measure 
the  time." 

He  is  the  man  to  w^hom  Bishop  Edwards  refers  in  his  diary,  January  1  7, 
1862  :  "Tonight  Brother  K.  preached  from  redeeming  the  time.  A  good,  very 
good  sermon.  What  good  that  man  might  do,"  etc.  See  "Life  of  Bishop 
Edwards,"  page  2  I  0.  I  heard  Brother  Keys  preach  that  sermon.  It  was  in 
the   old    church    in   West   Fairview,  and    was    good.     But   I    heard    Dr.  Keys 


UNITEDBRETHREN    CHURCH  59 

preach  much  more  powerful  sermons.     I  regard  him  as  one  of  the  best,  if  not 
the  best,  pulpit  orators  I  ever  listened  to. 

Rev.  Z.  A.  Colestock  rendered  occasional  assistance  at  Mechanicsburg 
"when  at  home.  He  w^as  an  excellent  preacher,  earnest,  clear  and  logical. 
The  people  loved  to  hear  him  speak.  He  did  much  to  build  up  the  United 
Brethren  Church  in  the  Cumberland  Valley.  He  was  born  in  Littlestow^n, 
Penn'a,  March  25th,  1824.  During  the  y^ar  1829,  when  a  mere  child,  he 
•was  converted  at  a  "cottage  prayer-meeting."  Rev.  William  Brown,  after- 
w^ards  Bishop,  w^as  preacher  on  the  Littlestown  charge,  and  while  conducting 
revival  services  in  the  United  Brethren  Church  at  night,  held  these  prayer- 
meetings  in  houses  during  day-time. 

The  church  in  vv^hich  William  Brown  preached  was  built  by  Philip  Bishop 
on  his  ow^n  land  in  1822,  and  dedicated  by  Bishop  New^comer  on  the  12th  of 
October,  1823.  On  the  28th  of  January,  1826,  he  deeded  this  property  to 
trustees  in  trust  for  the  use  of  the  United  Brethren  in  Christ  as  a  place  of 
worship  for  all  time,  if  they  use  it.  This  house  vv^as  erected  by  Dr.  Colestock's 
father  as  contractor.  Rev.  William  Brovv^n  w^as  greatly  loved  by  the  people. 
At  that  time  no  one  thought  of  receiving  a  little  boy  into  church  fellowship ; 
and  as  his  parents  afterwards  moved  to  the  State  of  Ohio,  when  he  vs^as 
fifteen  years  of  age  he  united  w^ith  the  church  there. 

When  a  young  man  he  entered  the  Gospel  ministry  in  Ohio,  v/here  he 
then  resided.  In  I  846  he  visited  his  native  State  and  became  assistant  pastor 
to  Rev.  Jacob  C.  Smith  on  the  Littlestown  circuit  in  April,  and  remained  with 
him  for  about  ten  months  till  Conference.  During  that  time  a  great  revival 
w^as  held  in  the  Littlestow^n  Church,  in  w^hich  William  B.  Raber,  vs^ho  then 
w^as  conducting  the  Littlestow^n  Academy,  w^as  converted,  and  joined  the 
church.  Soon  after  Raber  received  Qyarterly  Conference  license  to  preach 
at  Miller's  School  House.  At  the  Annual  Conference,  held  at  Hershey's 
Church,  below  Carlisle,  in  1 847,  Colestock  and  Dickson  w^ere  admitted  as 
members.  This  information  I  received  from  Dr.  Colestock  September  9, 
1 909,  w^hen  he  visited  me  in  Hanover,  at  my  home.  He  again  visited  me 
October  2d,  and  on  Sabbath,  the  3d,  -we  w^ent  to  Littlestow^n ;  in  the  after- 
noon at  tvs^o  o'clock  he  preached  a  sermon  of  a  full  hour  to  a  large  and  ap- 
preciative audience  in  the  United  Brethren  Church.  Many  of  his  old  friends 
and  relatives  vv^ere  present,  and  enjoyed  his  services. 

Rev.  William  B.  Raber  exchanged  his  profession  as  teacher  in  the  Acad- 
emy for  that  of  preacher  on  the  circuit.  He  w^as  a  man  of  w^onderful  preach- 
ing ability.  Tall  and  straight,  he  wore  his  hair  long,  and  moved  about  with 
grace  and  great  ease.  Gifted  by  nature  to  frame  his  thoughts  in  elegant 
diction,  he  could  hold  his  congregations  in  rapture.  It  mattered  not  whether 
in  English  or  German,  he  possessed  the  same  fluency ;  his  cogent  arguments 
w^ere  interspersed  w^ith  sallies  of  w^it,  and  he  was  able  to  keep  up  the  atten- 
tion. At  the  campmeetings  of  those  days  he  was  in  constant  demand.  There 
was  a  general  desire  to  hear  Raber. 


60  LANDMARK     HISTORYOFTHE 

Near  the  end  of  the  Conference  year,  when  he  was  pastor  of  the  First 
Church  at  York,  an  attack  of  maHgnant  erysipelas  proved  fatal  to  this  emi- 
nent servant  of  God.  His  death,  February  I  1,  1875,  was  a  heavy  loss  to  the 
Pennsylvania  Conference. 

Christian  S.  Crider  is  one  of  the  preachers  who  visited  Shopp's  Church, 
and  occasionally  preached  there.  His  sister,  Louisa  Crider,  and  John  Shopp 
were  married  on  the  1  6th  of  March,  1  843.  Their  son,  John  Henry  Shopp,  Esq., 
owns  the  old  homestead  and  resides  there  in  the  summer  months,  but  has 
his  residence  in  Harrisburg,  where  he  is  an  attorney-at-law.  In  answer  to  a 
letter  which  I  wrote  to  him  he  responds :  "Rev.  Christian  S.  Crider  was  my 
mother's  brother,  the  youngest,  1  think,  a  son  of  Rev.  John  Crider,  residing 
about  four  or  five  miles  north  or  northwest  of  Chambersburg,  Penn'a."  With 
the  letter,  from  which  I  havo  taken  the  above,  he  enclosed  one  from  Christian 
S.  Crider  to  John  Shopp,  dated  Chambersburg,  Penn'a,  March  7,  1843,  thank- 
ing him  for  the  kind  invitation  to  be  present  at  the  prospective  wedding, 
March  1  6,  with  regrets  that  his  duties  precluded  his  attendance.  He  states 
further  :  "This  day  1  thought  of  starting  to  my  circuit,  but  while  writing  this 
letter  intelligence  arrived  that  I  should,  if  possible,  attend  to  a  funeral,  which 
w^ill  detain  me  two  days  longer." 

"York  circuit  is  my  Conference  appointment,  and  on  Friday  next  is  my 
first;  and  on  its  account  can  stay  no  longer  at  home;  but  thank  you  for  the 
invitation,  through  Louisa,  to  your  wedding." 

He  was  received  into  the  Pennsylvania  Conference  at  a  session  in 
"Shopp's  Meeting  House,"  in  the  month  of  March,  1835.  He  is  marked 
present  at  the  sessions  of  1837,  1839,  1841,  and  each  succeeding  year  up  to 
and  including  1 846,  after  which  his  name  appears  as  a  member  of  the  East 
Pennsylvania  Conference.  He  was  ordained  at  the  Conference  in  session  in 
Light's  Meeting  House  in  the  month  of  March,  1839.  In  the  "History  of 
York  County"  it  is  stated  that,  "In  1 840  the  Mission  Society,  in  connection 
with  the  Otterbein  Church  at  Baltimore,  established  a  mission  in  York,  and 
sent  Rev.  Christian  S.  Crider  to  begin  the  work." 

The  Conference  minutes  show  that  in  1841  he  was  appointed  to  the 
York  mission ;  and  in  1  842  was  reappointed  to  the  same  field.  At  the  ses- 
sion of  1843  he  was  assigned  to  the  York  circuit,  as  seen  from  his  letter. 
The  Conference  minutes  state  that  in  1 844  he  was  reappointed  to  the  York 
circuit.  In  the  session  of  1845  he  was  sent  to  the  Lebanon  station,  and  in 
1 846  was  reappointed.  This  would  bring  his  pastorate  at  Lebanon  up  to 
1847.  Whether  he  was  there  longer  the  minutes  of  the  East  Pennsylvania 
Conference  will  show.  From  Lebanon  he  was  appointed  to  Myerstown,  in 
the  same  county,  where  he  closed  his  useful  life. 

Few  ministers  leave  such  rich  and  blessed  records  as  this  faithful  ser- 
vant. At  York  a  church  was  purchased  ;  at  Lebanon  a  magnificent  house  for 
the  Lord  was  erected  under  his  superintendency,  and  at  Myerstown  a  large 
brick  church  arose  as  the  result  of  his  untirable  energy.     Wherever  he  went. 


UNITED     BRETHREN    CHURCH  61 

God's  blessing  accompanied  and  Zion  prospered.  Several  years  ago  Rev. 
I.  Moyer  Hershey,  then  pastor  of  the  United  Brethren  Church  at  Myerstown, 
transcribed  and  sent  me  the  inscription  w^hich  marks  the  gravestone  of  this 
noble  servant,  buried  in  the  cemetery  there : 

SACRED  TO  THE  MEMORY 
OF 

REVP   C.    S.    CRIDER 

Born  Feb.  1,  1811 
Died  March  7,  1850 

Aged 
39  years,  1   mo.  6  days. 

In  1835  he  entered  the  ministry  of  the  Church  of  the 
United  Brethren  in  Christ,  during  which  time  remained 
in  the  performance  of  his  arduous  duties,  which  de- 
volved on  him  for  years.  Faithful  as  a  minister  to  his 
end,  saying  with  the  Apostle,  "I  have  fought  a  good 
fight,  I  have  finished  my  course." 

Simon  Dresbach  w^as  one  of  the  old  and  highly  esteemed  ministers  vv^ho 
usually  attended  the  Sabbath  morning  services  in  the  United  Brethren  Church 
at  Shiremanstown  when  I  w^as  junior  pastor  there  in  1859-60.  To  the  enjoy- 
ment of  the  congregation  he  usually  added  an  "exhortation, "  and  made  the 
closing  prayer.  He  possessed  a  very  logical  mind,  and  vsras  able  to  carry 
forv^ard  an  argument  with  remarkable  precision.  He  preached  well,  both  in 
the  German  and  English  languages.  When  young  his  father  migrated  from 
Pennsylvania  to  Pickaway  County,  Ohio.  Many  of  his  relatives  reside  there 
yet.  At  an  early  age  he  entered  the  ministry  in  that  State,  but  after  several 
years  came  to  Pennsylvania  and  entered  the  ministerial  ranks,  and  as  early 
as  1825  Newcomer  makes  mention  of  him  in  services  held  together  at  Hagers- 
town,  where  he  seems  to  have  been  appointed  to  preach  on  the  circuit  at 
that  time,  for  in  1826  it  is  recorded,  August  13,  Dreisbach  preached  and 
Newcomer  exhorted.  Bishop  Newcomer  makes  the  following  record:  "1829, 
February  7th,  lodged  w^ith  John  Shopp.  Sunday,  8th,  preached  in  new^  meet- 
ing house ;  the  Lord  was  with  us,  and  blessed  the  word  spoken.  Brother 
Dreisbach  preached  at  night ;  1  exhorted  after  him.  9th,  I  visited  several 
families  and  stayed  for  the  night  with  Bowman.  Next  day  at  Harrisburg  vis- 
ited Winebrenner. " 

Rev.  Dresbach  married  a  daughter  of  Mr.  Bowman,  who  was  an  early 
supporter  of  Rev.  John  Winebrenner. 

Rev.  Dresbach  owned  a  farm  of  one  hundred  acres  at  Oysters  Point, 
three  miles  west  of  Harrisburg,  which  now  is  very  valuable.  He  lived  on  it 
for  some  years,  then  built  a    house    in  White  Hall,  near   by.     Soon    after  the 


62  LANDMARKHISTORYOFTHE 

war  he  sold  his  properties  in  Pennsylvania  and  moved  to  the  State  of  Illinois, 
and  resided  at  Mount  Carroll,  where  he  ended  his  useful  life.  In  the  General 
Conference,  held  in  Fairfield  County,  Ohio,  May  15,  1829,  he  was  one  of  the 
eight  delegates  to  represent  the  old  Hagerstovsm  Conference,  the  names  be- 
ing :  William  Brow^n,  Henry  Burtner,  Jacob  Erb,  John  Hendricks,  Thomas 
Miller,  John  Zahn,  Simon  Dresbach,  Ezekiel  Boring. 

It  is  my  opinion  that  he  w^as  the  English  preacher  on  the  circuit,  wrhich 
embraced  the  new^  Shopp's  Church  during  the  years  from  1827  to  1831. 

Bishop  Jacob  Erb  w^as  born  two  miles  southeast  of  Manheim,  Lancaster 
County,  Penn'a,  on  the  25  th  of  May,  1804,  and  died  at  Shiremanstown,  Cum- 
berland County,  Penn'a,  April  29,  1  883,  hence  at  the  time  of  his  death  had 
attained  to  the  age  of  seventy-eight  years,  eleven  months  and  four  days.  His 
father.  Christian  Erb,  vv^as  born  in  Lancaster  County  in  1  758.  His  maternal 
grandfather  w^as  Abraham  Hershey,  v^ho  migrated  from  Sw^itzerland  to  Amer- 
ica in  1  759.  His  mother's  maiden  name  vv^as  Elizabeth  Hershey.  Jacob  w^as 
six  years  of  age  when  his  parents  moved  to  Cumberland  County.  After  the 
death  of  his  father,  in  1  820,  he  resided  w^ith  Samuel  Eberly,  w^ho  w^as  married 
to  his  sister  Catharine,  and  worked  on  the  farm  for  several  years,  and  was  a 
"good  hand. "  During  this  time  he  w^as  a  diligent  student  of  the  Bible,  and 
transcribed  passages  which  he  took  along  w^hen  he  vv^as  in  the  field  plow^ing 
and  committed  to  memory,  which  proved  very  useful  in  his  subsequent  cleri- 
cal career. 

In  the  month  of  May,  1823,  he  joined  the  Annual  Conference,  and  during 
sixty  consecutive  annual  sessions  w^as  every  time  present.  His  ministerial 
labors  w^ere  extensive  in  his  native  State  of  Pennsylvania,  and  extended  to 
New  York  and  Canada  as  early  as  1825,  and  was  in  Rochester  on  the  day 
the  water  was  let  into  the  Erie  Canal,  which  was  October  the  25th  of  that 
year.  He  had  charge  of  different  circuits,  and  w^as  presiding  elder  for  seven 
years ;  pastor  of  the  old  Otterbein  Church  in  Baltimore,  Md.,  for  seven  years ; 
pastor  of  the  First  United  Brethren  Church  of  York,  Penn'a,  three  years; 
editor  of  the  "Busy  Martha,"  a  German  paper  published  in  Baltimore,  Md. ; 
served  as  bishop  from  1837  till  1845,  and  again  from  1849  till  1853. 

Bishop  Erb  was  ordained  an  elder  at  Chambersburg,  Penn'a,  in  1  825,  by 
Bishop  Newcomer,  assisted  by  Bishop  Henry  Kumler,  Sr.  Two  bishops  were 
ordained  by  Erb,  namely,  Jacob  Markwood  in  1841,  and  John  Dickson  in 
1850. 

When  he  had  completed  his  labors  in  York  he  again  moved  to  his  home 
in  Shiremanstov/n,  w^hich  w^as  five  miles  from  Harrisburg.  He  saw^  that  many 
of  our  church  members  w^ere  moving  from  different  charges  to  the  growing 
capital  of  the  State,  many  of  whom  he  knew.  These  he  began  to  organize 
and  serve.  He  bought  a  lot  of  ground  on  Boas  Street,  on  which  he  hoped  to 
see  a  church  erected.  In  the  spring,  when  he  was  ready  to  lift  the  deed  and 
advance  the  money  in  final  payment,  he  was  offered  quite  an  advance,  w^hich 
he  could  have  made  for  himself,  but  did  not.     The  congregation  got  the  lot 


UNITEDBRETHRENCHURCH  63 

at  what  he  had  paid  for  it.  On  this  ground  a  plain  frame  building  was 
erected,  for  which  the  congregation  paid  and  w^as  not  plastered  over  w^ith 
debt.  Of  this  building  a  few  arrogant  preachers  made  invidious  remarks, 
which  amounted  to  nothing.  The  house  answered  the  purpose  of  gathering 
a  good  membership,  and  out  of  it  grew^  the  fine  Memorial  Church  w^hich  now 
stands  upon  the  well-chosen  site  in  the  heart  of  that  city. 

Jacob  Erb  was  one  of  the  most  efficient  ministers  of  the  United  Brethren 
Church  in  organizing  and  building  up  that  denomination  in  the  Lebanon 
Valley.  Other  men  had  worked  before  him ;  but  to  his  executive  ability  that 
denomination  ovyres  its  definite  organization.  In  1823,  when  he  joined  Con- 
ference, he  -was  appointed  to  the  Lancaster  circuit.  It  extended  from  Harris- 
burg  to  Lancaster,  and  out  to  Turkey  Hill ;  thence  by  Columbia  to  Marietta, 
Maytown,  Middletown  and  Highspire  ;  thence  to  Hummelstown,  Union  Water 
Works,  Annville,  Lebanon,  SchaefFerstown,  Ephrata,  Manheim  and  Lititz. 
All  over  this  field  were  members  who  were  recognized  as  such,  but  they  were 
not  formed  into  classes  and  enrolled  in  a  formal  manner.  Lawrence,  in  his 
"Church  History,"  writes :  "Large  numbers  of  those  w^ho,  by  the  attraction  of 
divine  love,  formed  themselves  into  United  Brethren  societies,  refused  to  have 
their  names  recorded  in  a  church  book,  and  were  slow  to  submit  to  any  dis- 
cipline except  the  New  Testament."  Mr.  Erb  regarded  this  as  a  great  mis- 
take, but  he  knew  that  their  minds  must  be  prepared  before  formal  organiza- 
tion and  individual  enrollment  could  be  introduced.  He  was  still  a  young 
preacher  of  some  four  years  experience  when  he  decided  to  do  on  the  east 
side  of  the  Susquehanna  what  had,  for  some  years,  been  in  vogue  on  the 
west  side. 

From  Mr.  Erb  I  received,  personally,  the  account  of  what  he  termed  the 
first  formal  reception  and  classification  of  members  east  of  the  river.  But 
before  he  could  proceed  he  had  to  get  the  consent  of  some  of  the  older 
brethren.  He  found  it  necessary  to  go  to  Lebanon  and  present  his  case  to 
Rev.  Felix  Light,  who  had  the  power  of  a  bishop  in  that  county.  It  was  only 
after  an  earnest  plea  that  he  obtained  a  reluctant  permission  to  proceed.  The 
organization  took  place,  at  what  was  called  Sherk's  Old  Meeting  House,  in 
the  year  1  827.  This  church  is  located  in  the  northwestern  portion  of  Lebanon 
County,  about  two  and  a  half  miles  east  of  Grantville,  Dauphin  County.  Some 
years  previous  about  fifty  persons  had  been  converted  under  the  ministerial 
labors  of  Rev.  Felix  Light.  Afterwards  Father  Roop  and  other  ministers 
preached  to  this  people,  and  under  Mr.  Erb's  ministry  there  was  an  awaken- 
ing, and  many  others  were  converted.  Towards  the  close  of  this  meeting  he 
concluded  that  unless  he  would  class  up  there  would  be  other  denominations 
ready  to  attend  to  that.  Hence  it  was  that  he  made  his  journey  to  Father 
Felix  Light  at  Lebanon,  and  when  ready  he  announced  at  his  Sabbath  ser- 
vices that  he  intended  to  receive,  such  as  were  willing,  publicly  into  church 
membership  on  next  evening.  When  Monday  evening  arrived,  a  large  con- 
gregation assembled,  and  after  preaching,  quite  a  number  joined   the  church, 


64  LANDMARK     HISTORY    OFTHE 

whose  names  were  enrolled  as  members.     This  worked   so  well   that  it  soon 
became  the  prevailing  custom. 

Several  years  after  this  he  became  quite  friendly  with  Elder  John  Wine- 
brenner,  being  in  sympathy  with  his  revival  work.  They  had  labored  together 
in  a  campmeeting  as  early  as  1826,  one  of  which  was  held  at  the  poor-house 
near  Harrisburg,  when  Rev.  John  Elliott  preached  with  great  pow^er.  They 
were  together  at  a  union  campmeeting  held  near  Linglestown  in  1827.  At 
another  the  same  year,  in  a  woods  close  to  the  borough  of  Lebanon,  and  one 
at  Bowman's  (now  White  Hall),  in  Cumberland  County.  These  were  meet- 
ings of  great  spiritual  pow^er,  and  made  deep  and  lasting  impressions  on  the 
minds  and  hearts  of  the  many  thousands  in  attendance.  In  the  year  1875, 
while  pastor  of  the  Trinity  United  Brethren  Church,  Lebanon,  Dr.  George 
Ross  requested  me  to  bring  Bishop  Erb,  when  on  a  visit  to  me,  to  his  house, 
in  order  to  get  some  historical  data  on  the  life  of  Elder  Winebrenner.  in  due 
time  the  Bishop  and  I  dined  with  the  Doctor  and  family,  at  his  fine  residence, 
when  I  had  the  pleasure  of  being  present  at  the  interview  which  is  recorded 
in  the  "Biography  of  Elder  John  Winebrenner,"  by  Dr.  George  Ross,  printed 
at  Harrisburg,  Penn'a,  1880.     From  it  I  quote  the  following: 

"Elder  Winebrenner,  having  fully  changed  his  views  on  the  action  of 
baptism,  made  arrangements  with  Rev.  Jacob  Erb  (now  Ex-Bishop  Erb,  of 
Shiremanstown,  Penn'a)  to  baptize  him.  At  first  Mr.  Erb  objected,  on  the 
ground  that  he  was  too  young  a  man ;  but  Elder  Winebrenner  insisted,  and 
told  him  that  some  young  men  were  further  advanced  in  the  divine  life  than 
many  old  men.  Besides,  they  had  labored  together  in  the  ministry  for  many 
years.  Mr.  Erb  was  then  preaching  on  the  Dauphin  County  circuit  for  the 
United  Brethren  in  Christ,  and  met  his  engagements  punctually.  On  the  day 
that  he  had  appointed  to  baptize  Elder  Winebrenner  he  preached  at  the 
Peter's  Mountain  appointment,  two  miles  below  Halifax,  and  in  order  that  he 
might  reach  Harrisburg  in  time,  he  begen  his  services  at  8  o'clock  in  the 
morning,  and  closed  at  about  1 0%  o'clock,  took  dinner  and  started  at  I  1 
o'clock  and  rode  to  Harrisburg,  a  distance  of  fifteen  miles,  arriving  there  at 
2  o'clock  in  the  afternoon.  A  large  congregation  had  met  together  in  the 
bethel,  on  Mulberry  Street,  w^here  now  the  Harrisburg  Hospital  stands.  Elder 
Winebrenner  preached  what  is  now  known  as  the  1830  sermon  on  baptism. 
Immediately  after  the  preaching,  and  between  3  and  4  o'clock  p.m.  they 
proceeded  to  the  Susquehanna  River,  and  Mr.  Erb  baptized  him,  just  above 
where  the  railroad  bridge  now  is.  This  took  place  Sunday,  July  4th,  1830." 
Text  of  sermon,  Eph.  4  :  4,  5  :   "There  is  "^^  ''^  one  baptism." 

"In  October,  1830,  at  Harrisburg,  Elder  John  Winebrenner,  in  connection 
with  five  other  ministers,  namely,  Andrew  Miller,  John  Elliott,  John  Walborn, 
David  Maxwell,  and  James  Richards,  representing  a  number  of  local  churches, 
agreed  to  form  themselves,  for  more  successful  co-operation,  into  an  Elder- 
ship, under  the  title  of  'The  General  Eldership  of  the  Church  of  God.'  " 

The  labors  of  Rev.  Jacob  Erb  at  this  time  of  his  life  -were  extended  over 
a  wide   territory.     Between   1827  and   1837  he   made   occasional  visits  to   the 


UNITED    BRETHREN    CHURCH  65 

societies  which  had  been  established  in  Erie  County,  in  the  State  of  New 
York  and  Canada  West.  These  journeys  were  made  on  horseback,  and  often 
through  new^ly  settled  country.  Sometimes  he  w^ould  direct  his  course  through 
the  counties  of  Perry,  Juniata,  Huntingdon,  Bedford  and  Somerset  to  West- 
moreland, w^here  he  had  labored  before  with  great  success.  Then  he  directed 
his  course  through  the  western  tier  of  counties  to  Erie  and  Buffalo,  New^ 
York.  The  return  home  through  Pennsylvania  was  usually  made  through 
the  counties  of  Tioga,  Lycoming,  Northumberland  and  Dauphin. 

About  six  or  seven  miles  from  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  resided  his  cousin.  Rev. 
Jacob  G.  Erb,  an  able  preacher,  and  in  that  community  an  influential  citizen 
and  large  land-holder.  In  the  same  county  of  Erie,  N.  Y.,  resided  the  Smiths, 
Christian  and  Gideon,  sons  of  Rev.  Christian  Smith,  one  of  the  early  ministers 
of  the  Brethren  Church.  With  him  it  vs^as  that  Mr.  Erb  made  his  first  journey 
to  Canada  in  1825.  They  tarried  at  noon  one  day  at  a  hotel  to  take  din- 
ner. Tw^o  young  men  w^ho  w^ere  on  their  w^ay  home  from  college  vv^ere 
also  there.  They  looked  w^ith  some  curiosity  on  these  tv/o  plainly  dressed 
ministers,  the  one  an  old  man  and  the  other  young,  and  of  course  inferred 
that  they  w^ere  illiterate,  and  w^ished  to  show^  themselves  off  as  smart  by 
spouting  a  few  Latin  w^ords,  w^hen  to  their  utter  astonishment  Christian  Smith 
started  to  converse  w^ith  them  in  the  Latin  language,  v/hich  he  w^as  able  to 
do.  This  had  a  bad  effect  on  their  appetite.  They  hurried  through,  ordered 
their  team  and  left  before  the  plain  old  preacher  could  resume  the  conversa- 
tion.    Smith  was  a  fine  classical  scholar,  and  spoke  the  high  German. 

From  Erie  County  Mr.  Erb  usually  crossed  the  Niagara  River  at  the  Falls, 
and  passed  through  the  townships  of  Brant,  Wentworth  and  Waterloo,  a  fine 
scope  of  country,  visiting  and  preaching  in  the  tow^ns  of  Guelph,  Berlin  and 
Preston.  At  the  last  named  place  he  had  a  large  number  of  relatives — men 
of  w^ealth  and  social  standing.  Mr.  Erb's  grandfather  and  most  of  the  family 
had  settled  in  Ontario  years  before. 

When  the  Northern  Central  Railroad  from  Harrisburg  to  Buffalo  w^as 
completed,  the  old  system  of  travel  by  carriage,  horseback  and  stage  coach 
passed  aw^ay. 

In  the  month  of  August,  1858,  during  wrhich  year  Mr.  Erb  was  presiding 
elder  in  the  Canada  Conference,  I  arranged  to  meet  him  at  the  home  of  his 
cousin.  Rev.  Jacob  G.  Erb,  in  Erie  County,  New  York.  There,  after  spending 
several  days,  w^e  w^ere  joined  by  Rev.  Gideon  Smith,  and  w^ent  to  the  Niagara 
Falls.  In  the  evening  we  w^alked  over  the  suspension  bridge  and  went  to  a 
temperance  hotel  kept  by  a  gentleman  named  Skinner,  vs^hose  w^ife  w^as  a 
member  of  the  United  Brethren  Church.  We  were  kindly  received,  and 
found  in  the  parlor  Bishop  Glossbrenner  awaiting  us.  The  next  morning  we 
took  the  train  for  Preston,  w^here  teams  w^ere  ready  to  convey  us  some  six 
or  more  miles  to  a  campmeeting.  The  forest  in  w^hich  the  meeting  w^as  held 
w^as  grand  ;  immense  trees  stood  weaving  their  magnificent  branches,  giving 
evidence  of  the  rich  soil  which  nourished  them.  We  found  an  excellent  class 
of  Christian  people  occupying  the  tents  and  cottages,  in  old  fashion  style,  who 


66  LANDMARK    HISTORY    OF    THE 

entertained  us  with  great  kindness.  Preaching  and  singing  conducted  in  two 
languages.  One  evening  a  German  preacher  announced  his  text,  and  in 
opening  his  discourse  spoke  so  slow^ly  that  he  seemed  to  have  no  hfe.  Mr. 
Erb,  w^ho  w^ith  other  preachers  was  occupying  the  pulpit,  spoke  up  loudly  so 
all  could  hear:  "Fang  einmal  an!"  (begin  once).  It  raised  a  titter  in  the 
congregation,  but  had  its  effect,  for  he  started  up  in  real  earnest.  To  another 
preacher  w^ho  w^as  very  prolix  he  gave  the  advice,  in  an  exhortation  w^hich  he 
added,  "alw^ays  to  begin  when  he  w^as  ready,  and  to  stop  w^hen  he  w^as 
done." 

Everything  seemed  to  conspire  to  make  this  a  grand  meeting ;  but  about 
Saturday  a  cold  rain  set  in.  There  w^as  no  pavilion  nor  large  tent  in  which 
to  hold  services,  and  w^hen  Sabbath  morning  came  immense  crow^ds  gathered 
to  hear  Bishop  Glossbrenner  preach,  and  they  w^ere  determined  to  hear  him. 
The  rain  v/as  heavy  part  of  the  time.  A  request  came  to  the  Bishop  to  preach 
anyhow^,  and  there  in  the  drenching  dow^npour  stood  the  large  assemblage 
and  listened.  The  enchantment  of  such  an  audience  inspired  the  speaker  to 
the  highest  pitch.  I  can,  in  memory,  recall  that  day  yet,  and  in  imagination 
see  the  men  and  w^omen,  old  and  young,  stand  there  and  drink  in  the  Gospel 
truth  w^hich  flowed  from  those  eloquent  lips.  At  the  close  of  the  sermon  the 
Bishop  thanked  his  auditors  and  told  them  that  in  all  of  his  ministry  he  never 
before  had  a  congregation  like  that  to  stand  in  a  rain  for  an  hour.  On  Mon- 
day Bishop  Glossbrenner  took  his  leave,  and  w^ent  to  meet  other  engage- 
ments. 

A  few^  days  after.  Bishop  Erb  baptized  quite  a  number  by  immersion  in 
the  Grand  River.  At  this  camp  I  met  persons  w^hom  I  had  learned  to  know^ 
as  students  the  year  before  at  Otterbein  University,  Ohio  :  the  Sherk  brothers, 
Gonders,  and  others.  Rev.  George  Plowman  vv^as  the  preacher  on  the  charge 
on  w^hich  the  campmeeting  w^as  held. 

As  presiding  elder,  Mr.  Erb  traveled  over  a  large  district  with  horse  and 
open  buggy,  over  that  country  between  Lake  Ontario  and  Lake  Huron,  up  as 
far  as  Port  Elgin.  He  also  had  appointments  along  the  Niagara  River,  at 
Chippewa,  Black  Rock  and  other  points;  at  Doon  and  Canning.  I  spent 
several  w^eeks  vv^ith  him  on  this  w^ork  in  Canada  West,  now^  Ontario,  and  was 
favorably  impressed  with  the  excellent  people  who  occupied  the  fine  farms 
in  this  rich  wheat  belt,  and  who  lived  in  the  thriving  towns.  It  certainly  was 
a  splendid  field  for  "Christian  endeavor." 

Rev.  Samuel  Huber,  who  was  born  January  31,1  782,  in  1858  published 
his  Autobiography,  edited  by  Rev.  John  Denig,  in  which  he  states  that  our 
first  ministers  visited  at  the  house  of  his  father,  John  Huber,  at  Rocky  Spring, 
Franklin  County,  Penn'a.  He  writes :  "The  first  United  Brethren  preachers 
who  came  amongst  us  were  William  Otterbein,  George  A.  Guething,  Martin 
Boehm,  Christian  Newcomer,  Joseph  Hoffman,  John  Neidig,  Martin  Crider, 
Abraham  Draksel,  Christopher  Grosh,  Felix  Light,  Christian  Smith,  Mr.  Zent- 
mire,  with  a  few  others.     These  w^ere  the  pioneers  of  the  United  Brethren  in 


UNITEDBRETHRENCHURCH  67 

our  parts.  This  was  the  only  preaching  place  for  our  brethren  between 
Harrisburg,  Penn'a,  and  Hagerstow^n,  Md.,  as  Father  New^comer  frequently 
told  us."  "When  about  thirteen  years  of  age,  under  the  preaching  of  Rev. 
Joseph  Hoffman,  I  became  deeply  convinced  of  sin  righteousness  and  of  a 
judgment  to  come."  This  was  about  the  year  1  795,  and  establishes  the  fact 
that  there  w^as  a  preaching  place  at  Rocky  Spring  in  the  last  decade  of  the 
eighteenth  century.  He  w^as  converted  in  1813,  and  soon  after  became  an 
active  w^orker,  and  later  an  earnest  preacher  in  the  Church.  By  the  ministers 
whose  names  he  mentions,  the  doctrines  of  our  Church  were  preached  from 
the  Potomac  to  the  Susquehanna.  Houses  w^ere  opened  for  divine  service, 
and  faithful,  earnest  believers  joined  the  ranks  of  w^orkers  for  God  and  for 
the  spreading  of  sacred  truth. 

Christian  New^comer  was  born  in  Lancaster  County,  Penn'a,  in  1  749,  and 
lived  there  till  some  years  after  marriage,  w^hen  he  moved  to  the  State  of 
Maryland.  He  entered  the  ministry  of  the  United  Brethren  Church  and  w^as 
associated  w^ith  the  founders.  He  was  ordained  by  Otterbein  in  1813,  and 
became  the  third  bishop  in  our  Church.  His  Journal,  "written  by  himself  in 
German,  containing  his  travels  from  1795  to  1830,  a  period  of  thirty-five 
years,  translated  into  English  by  Rev.  John  Hildt,  and  printed  by  F.  G.  W. 
Kapp,  Hagerstown,  Md.,  1834,"  has  proved  the  most  valuable  book  in  the 
early  history  of  the  denomination.  This  Journal  was  unappreciated  and 
underrated  for  some  years  after  its  publication,  people  saying  that  it  was  too 
much  like  an  almanac.  As  late  as  1859  Bishop  Erb  had  several  dozen  copies 
for  w^hich  he  could  find  no  sale.  I  undertook  to  sell  them,  but  found  no 
demand,  and  left  them  w^ith  my  sister  at  Shiremanstown.  About  ten  years 
later,  w^hen  I  looked  for  the  books,  I  found  they  had  been  given  to  the 
"preachers,"  and  had  considerable  trouble  to  find  a  copy  for  my  ow^n  use. 
Now^  they  have  become  rare,  and  every  man  who  has  essayed  to  v^rite 
United  Brethren  history  has  found  New^comer's  Journal  an  indispensable 
necessity. 

From  this  Journal  we  learn  the  names  of  families  in  w^hose  houses  he 
preached,  and  the  towns  which  he  visited.  Often  members  moved  to  Wes- 
tern Pennsylvania,  Ohio  and  Indiana,  and  he  followed  them.  From  his  home 
in  Maryland  his  preaching  tours  through  Franklin  and  Cumberland  Counties 
give  us  a  valuable  record.     So,  also,  with  the  counties  of  York  and  Adams. 

As  early  as  February  26,  1  797,  he  preached  at  Rocky  Spring,  and  then 
w^as  directing  his  course  tow^ards  Dauphin  and  Lebanon  Counties.  May  3  I , 
came  to  David  Sneider's,  on  the  Conodoguinet.  October  4th  of  this  year,  in 
company  with  Geeting,  made  a  journey  to  Pennsylvania,  and  that  evening 
Geeting  preached  in  Chambersburg.  The  next  day,  passing  through  Ship- 
pensburg  and  Carlisle,  they  came  to  the  residence  of  John  Jonas  Rupp,  where 
they  held  a  meeting.  This  place  is  on  the  Trindle  Road,  about  two  miles 
east  of  Mechanicsburg.  Mr.  Rupp  was  a  very  pious  and  most  excellent  man, 
a  devoted   member   of  the  German   Reformed   Church  ;  one  of  the  founders 


68  LANDMARK     HISTORYOFTHE 

and  officers  of  Friedens  Kirch,  located  one  mile  further  east  on  the  same 
road.  He  occupied  a  large  stone  mansion,  which  he  had  erected.  His 
grandson,  the  historian,  I.  Daniel  Rupp,  in  the  "Biographic  Memorial  of  the 
John  Jonas  Rupp  Family,"  writes  as  follows:  "Ministers  of  the  United  Breth- 
ren were  hospitably  entertained  :  namely.  Rev.  John  Adam  Guething,  died  June 
28,  1812;  Rev.  Christian  New^comer  stayed  frequently  all  night.  The  last  time  he 
w^as  accompanied  by  the  Revs.  Geeting  and  Hershey,  May  1  4,  1  80 1 ,  one  week  be- 
fore the  death  of  John  Jonas  Rupp,  who  departed  this  life  suddenly  Wednesday 
morning.  May  21,  1  80 1 ."  Rev.  Newcomer's  ministerial  visits  in  the  valley  w^ere 
continued  in  the  year  I  798,  accompanied  by  Boehm,  Pfrimmer  and  others. 

During  the  year  1  799  he  twice  made  journeys  through  Cumberland 
County,  and  visited  the  homes  of  those  w^ho  received  him  gladly.  The  next 
year  marks  an  important  addition  in  the  establishing  of  a  permanent  preach- 
ing place  in  the  low^er  end  of  the  valley.  His  record  shows  that  he  left  home 
for  Pennsylvania  March  20th,  1  800.  From  Abraham  Meyer's  he  went,  March 
24th,  to  the  house  of  John  Shopp,  a  half  mile  east  of  Peace  Church,  w^here 
he  spent  the  night.  Next  day  he  rode  to  Brother  Neidig,  in  Dauphin  County, 
and  returned  to  the  house  of  John  Shopp,  "and  on  the  26th  preached  here 
vvrith  great  freedom ;  and  w^ent  home  w^ith  Abraham  Meyer."  This  house 
continued  to  be  a  centre  of  United  Brethrenism  till  Shopp's  Church  w^as 
erected  in  1827.  I  may  here  add  that  the  elder  John  Shopp's  daughter, 
Sarah,  w^as  married  later  to  a  son  of  Rev.  Abraham  Meyer ;  his  daughter 
Catharine  to  Jacob  Neidig,  son  of  Rev.  John  Neidig,  and  his  daughter  Frances 
to  Henry  Herr,  of  Dauphin  County,  at  whose  house  the  Conference  of  1832 
w^as  held.  Of  this  family  1  speak  in  Lecture  the  First  with  regard  to  the 
revival  in  1819. 

It  seems  that  in  1801  Rev.  John  George  Pfrimmer  w^as  a  resident  of 
Harrisburg,  Penn'a,  and  v/ith  Geeting  and  others  held  meetings  in  the  low^er 
end  of  the  valley.  The  influence  of  these  early  United  Brethren  preachers, 
and  the  impression  made  upon  the  minds  and  hearts  of  the  people  became 
positive  for  good. 

The  Cumberland  circuit  grew^  out  of  the  earnest  labors  of  these  men  wrho 
devoted  their  best  efforts  to  the  spreading  of  vital  piety  among  the  people. 
To  this  charge  Rev.  New^comer  set  out  from  his  home  in  Maryland  on  the 
2d  day  of  March,  1802.  Soon  w^e  find  him  in  Franklin  County,  at  Wenger's, 
Eby's  and  others ;  in  Cumberland  County  at  Shippensburg,  at  Widow  Bear's 
(nine  miles  from  Carlisle),  at  David  Snyder's,  and  at  Abraham  Meyer's.  Then 
he  turns  into  York  County,  to  J.  Rohler's,  to  Lewisberry,  and  to  Maish's.  He 
returns  by  Lisburn  into  Cumberland  County  to  John  Shopp's  and  others; 
directs  his  course  to  Franklin  County,  visits  John  Huber's  and  John  Crider's; 
then  home. 

Here  I  w^ill  briefly  refer  to  these  three  York  County  places.  In  the  vicin- 
ity where  J.  Rohler  resided  we  now  have  a  meeting  house  belonging  to  the 
Dover  circuit.     "It  is  located  in  the   northeast  end   of  Dover  Township.     On 


UNITEDBRETHRENCHURCH  69 

the  19th  of  March,  1800,  Jacob  Rohler  deeded  one  acre  of  land  to  trus- 
tees, on  which  was  to  be  buih  a  new^  school-house  and  union  meeting  house. 
In  1870  a  new  Rohler's  Union  Church  was  built,  of  excellent  native  sandstone, 
at  a  cost  of  eight  hundred  dollars,  and  dedicated  by  Revs.  Raber,  Craumer 
and  Brickley.  It  is  now^  used  by  the  United  Brethren  only."  An  earnest 
membership  worships  in  that  church. 

Lewisberry  is  situated  near  the  centre  of  the  Redland  Valley,  about  fif- 
teen miles  northw^est  of  York,  on  the  road  leading  to  Carlisle.  In  the  year 
I  78  I  Rev.  Freeborn  Garretson,  a  Methodist  preacher,  introduced  the  doctrines 
of  that  denomination  in  the  Redland  Valley.  Here  ministers  of  that  persua- 
sion made  visits  to  their  adherents;  and  since  Rev.  Newcomer  w^as  in  sym- 
pathy with  their  faith  and  practice,  and  as  they  appreciated  and  enjoyed  his 
preaching,  he  occasionally  appeared  among  them  to  declare  the  saving  truth. 

Joseph  Maish  resided  on  a  farm  in  Fairview^  Township,  on  or  near  the 
road  leading  from  Lisburn  Forge  to  New  Cumberland,  about  tw^o  miles  from 
Lisburn.  He  had  a  son  Frederick,  who  w^ith  his  family  moved  to  Indiana 
about  I  864.  At  the  house  of  the  elder  Maish  preaching  v/as  maintained  for 
quite  a  period.  My  father,  Samuel  Eberly,  Sr.,  had  a  regular  appointment 
here  for  some  years.  After  the  demise  of  Mr.  Maish,  preaching  continued  in 
the  house  of  Peter  Steigelman,  and  later  in  what  was  called  the  Brick  School 
House,  which  was  near.  About  1861  this  was  attached  to  Shopp's  Station  as 
a  regular  appointment,  to  be  served  by  Revs.  J.  C.  Smith  and  W.  J.  Leacock. 
Myself  and  Rev.  Thomas  Bushong  were  appointed  as  their  successors.  We 
also  had  for  a  preaching  place  Lisburn,  a  very  old  village,  situated  in  a  bend 
of  the  Yellow^  Breeches  Creek,  and  has  a  brick  union  church.  This  town  is 
also  mentioned  by  Rev.  New^comer  in  his  itinerary.  For  a  number  of  years 
United  Brethren  ministers  preached  here. 

On  the  23d  day  of  March,  1910,  I  received  the  following  information 
from  Mr.  Isaac  Steigelman,  at  his  home  in  Shiremanstown.  He  was  born  in 
1 829,  and  hence  is  in  his  eighty-first  year,  possessing  a  good  memory  and 
is  quite  active  for  one  of  his  age.  He  served  through  the  entire  w^ar  of  the 
rebellion  in  a  regiment  of  the  Pennsylvania  Reserves,  and  saw  a  great  deal 
of  hard  service.  He  is  a  son  of  Peter  Steigelman,  who  lived  quite  near  to 
the  Brick  School  House,  and  who  entertained  in  his  house  the  preachers  w^ho 
ministered  there  up  to  the  time  of  his  death  in  1845.  He  is  buried  in  the 
United  Brethren  graveyard  east  of  Shiremanstown.  In  1854  the  widow 
bought  a  property  in  Shiremanstown,  and  w^ith  her  four  sons  moved  there. 
He  has  a  distinct  recollection  of  the  time  my  father  and  other  preachers  came 
to  their  place.  He  related  to  me  that  when  Rev.  Enoch  Hoffman  was  the 
preacher  on  the  Carlisle  circuit  in  the  year  1 839,  being  then  in  his  tenth 
year,  Mr.  Hoffman  took  him  along  to  his  residence  at  Big  Spring,  in  July,  to 
carry  water  for  the  hands  and  gather  sheaves  in  harvest.  Rev.  Hoffman  then 
lived  in  the  house  of  his  father-in-law,  Mr.  Keller,  at  Big  Spring.  Mr.  Steigel- 
man remained  on  the  farm  of  Mr.  Keller  till  after  the  corn-husking  in  Novem- 
ber.    Then  Rev.  Hoffman    brought   him   home,  and   on  the  way  preached  at 


70  LANDMARKHISTORYOFTHE 

Hershey's  Church,  east  of  Carlisle,  and  Kreisher's  at  Churchtovv^n.  Then  at 
Shopp's  Church,  and  at  his  home.  Mr.  Isaac  Steigelman  also  remembers 
Rev.  Jacob  Scholler,  who  while  preaching  on  this  circuit  resided  in  the  house 
of  John  Raysor,  at  the  Cedar  Spring,  about  one  mile  southeast  of  Shiremans- 
tow^n. 

From  1861  for  several  years  the  four  follow^ing  appointments  in  York 
County  formed  a  part  of  the  circuit  called  Shopp's  Station :  the  Brick  School 
House,  the  Cross  Roads  School  House,  which  was  about  a  half  mile  from  the 
residences  of  J.  S.  Prowell,  J.  L.  Reed,  R.  Cline,  and  T.  Thompson ;  the  Mount 
Olivet  Church,  and  the  Salem  Church. 

In  1 908  Dr.  Israel  H.  Betz,  of  York,  Penn'a,  prepared  and  read  an  ex- 
cellent paper  at  the  rededication  entitled  :  "A  Pioneer  Church  of  the  United 
Brethren  in  Christ  in  the  upper  end  of  York  County.  A  history  of  Salem, 
or  Stone  Church,  from  its  beginning,  1 844  to  1 908."  Dr.  Betz  is  not  only  a 
learned  and  skillful  physician,  but  has  also  given  much  time  and  study  to 
"local  history."  His  treatise  is  especially  valuable  for  the  record  of  names  of 
church  members  and  "the  names  of  eighty-six  different  heads  of  families 
interred  in  the  cemetery  there."  The  people  in  that  part  of  the  Fishing  Creek 
Valley  are  certainly  under  obligation  to  him  for  collating  and  publishing  this 
interesting  account  with  which  he  was  familiar.  He  states  in  his  address : 
"Among  the  early  families  that  composed  the  congregation  were  those  of 
David  Fisher,  Sr.,  John  Weitzel,  John  S.  Prowell,  Michael  Bayler,  John  Fish- 
er, Sr.,  James  Reed,  and  Jacob  Eurich.  Later  came  the  families  of  William 
K.  Fisher,  D.  C.  Kauffman,  George  M.  Prowell,  John  W.  Prowell,  J.  F.  Snyder, 
John  Snyder,  Alfred  W.  Prowell,  Samuel  Miller,  Samuel  Shupp,  Robert  Baker, 
Daniel  Keller,  Lorenzo  Kautz,  John  Fetrow,  Joseph  Wickersham,  and  those 
of  Messrs.  Quigley,  Hartman,  Dessenberger,  Arthur,  and  others.  Before  1872 
such  records  as  were  made  have  been  lost.  The  names  can  no  longer  be 
obtained  fully." 


UNITED    BRETHREN    CHURCH 


71 


LIST  OF  PREACHERS  WHO  SERVED  AT  SHOPPS  CHURCH 
AND  THE  SHIREMANSTOWN  CHURCH,  1827-1861 


1827-8        John  Krack  1839 

1828-9        William  Scholte  1840 

1829-0-1       Jacob  Erb,  William  Brown,  E.  Bor-  1841 

ing  and  Simon  Dresbach  1842 

These  were  the  principal  men  who  gave  both  Io4j 

German   and    English   preaching    for  these  lft4fS 
years.     It  is  somewhat  difficult  to   give  the 

exact  order  for  these  two  years.  1  849 

1831-2        John  Smith  1852 

1832-3  Andrew  Ringer  and  Jacob  Snyder  1853 

1833-4         Jacob  Snyder  and  Francis  C.  Wilson  1854 

1834-5  Ezekiel  Boring  and  Peter  Harman  1856 

1835-6         Jacob  Ritter  and  Jacob  Roop  1857 

1336-7         Jacob  Ritter  and  Jacob  Erb  1858 
1837-8          Frederick  Gilbert  and  Daniel  Funk- 

houser  1859- 

1838-9         Frederick  Gilbert  and  J.  G.  Snyder  I860. 


0 

1 

1 
3 

4-5 
7-8 
0-1 
3 
4 
5-6 


-9 


Enoch  Hoffman 
John  Hirsh  and  John  Hetzele 
Jacob  Sholler  and  William  Wagner 
Jacob  Sholler  and  Alexander  Owen 

•6  John  Fohl 

■9  Jacob  S.  Kesler 

■2  Alexander  Owen 
Jacob  C.  Smith 
Samuel  Enterline 
William  Wagner 
William  Ow^en 

John  Dickson  and  Sam'l  K.  Deatrick 
John  Dickson  and   Hiram  Y.  Hum- 

melbaugh 
John  Dickson  and  Daniel  Eberly 
John  Dickson  and  Jacob  F.  Wilt 


Samuel  Eberly  was  the  steward  of  Shopp's  Church  for  the  years  1828, 
1833,  1834,  1835,  1836,  1837,  1838,  1839,  1840,  1841  and  1842.  I  have  in 
my  possession  the  old  subscription  papers,  with  the  amounts  that  each  mem- 
ber paid,  and  the  receipts  of  the  preachers,  given  to  the  steward.  From 
these  lists  I  am  able  to  give  the  names   of   preachers   in   the  years  designated. 


1828  John  Schneider,  Presiding  Elder  1838 

1833  Jacob  Schneider  1839 

1834  Ezekiel  Boring  and  Peter  Harman  1840 

1835  Jacob  Ritter  and  Jacob  Roop  1841 

1836  Jacob  Ritter  and  Jacob  Erb  1842 

1837  Frederick  Gilbert  and  D.  Funkhouser 


Frederick  Gilbert  and  John  G.  Snyder 

Enoch  Hoffman 

John  Hirsh  and  John  Hetzele 

J.  Sholler  and  William  Wagner 

J.  Scholler  and  Alexander  Owen 


On   the   paper   of  1 828    the   names   of   members   and    supporters  are  as 
follow^s  : 


Samuel  Eberly 
John  Shopp 
Anna  Shopp 
Catharine  Shopp 
Jacob  Shopp 
Christian  Shopp 
David  Shopp 


Samuel  Shopp 
James  Niman 
Henry  Batdorf 
George  Rennert 
Michael  Coover 
Jacob  Swiler 
Jacob  Wise 


Elizabeth  Bee 
Polly  Miller 
Jacob  Berge 
Tacey  Miller 
Mary  Swartz 
John  Rupp 


ker 


In  1833  the  following  additional  names  appear 


Levi  Merkel 
Daniel  Sherban 
Martin  Zearing 


Jacob  Balmer 
Christian  Balmer 
David  Sheaffer 


Susan  Thuma 
C.  Yonez 
Michael  Ruby 


72  LANDMARK     HISTORY     OFTHE 

From  1835  to  1842  the  following  names  were  added: 

Peter  Eberly  Abraham  Warner  Mother  Balmer 

Peter  Smeltzer  Henry  Miller  John  Megary 

Jacob  Merkel  Catharine  Neidig  Levi  Balmer 

Widow  Rennert  Elizabeth  Balmer  Samuel  Balmer 

Daniel  Shelly  Mary  Aliver  Benjamin  Erb 

Jacob  Myers  John  Raysor  Carl  Swang 

Casper  Sherk  Mary  Raysor  Sallie  Myers 

Anna  Meyers 

This  does  not  comprise  all  the  names  of  members,  for  the  father  gener- 
ally put  down  his  name  for  the  whole  family.  Some  of  the  subscribers  also 
w^ere  members  of  other  churches,  but  they  are  few.  The  amounts  subscribed 
I  have  omitted. 


(Transcribed) 

CHURCH     RECORD 

OF 

THE  "UNITED  BRETHREN  IN  CHRIST" 

Situated  and  established  at  Shopp's  Meeting  House,  near  Shiremanstown, 
Cumberland  Co.,  Pa. 

In  and  about  the  year  of  o'ur  Lord  1 800,  this  neighborhood  was  first 
visited  by  several  of  the  founders  of  our  Church,  who  preached  the  Gospel 
in  simplicity  and  w^ith  zeal.  Souls  w^ere  converted  to  God  through  their  in- 
strumentality, among  whom  was  our  w^orthy  Father  and  Mother  Shopp  and 
others ;  and  through  the  process  of  time  "the  word  still  grew  and  was  multi- 
plied," and  this  section  of  country  was  formed  into  a  circuit.  How^ever,  for 
many  years  preaching  was  held  in  private  dwellings,  but  the  Church  being 
still  on  her  onward  march,  found  it  too  incommodious  to  w^orship  any  longer 
in  private  houses.  It  was  therefore  determined  by  the  Church  to  build  a 
house  for  the  Lord,  v/hich  was  accomplished  in  the  year  1827.  The  place 
still  being  regularly  supplied  with  preaching  by  the  circuit  brethren,  until  the 
spring  of  1843,  at  w^hich  time  it  was  organized  into  a  "station,"  to  be  supplied 
by  John  Fohl.  Therefore  may  the  Lord  omnipotent  be  wisdom  unto  his 
ignorance,  and  strength  to  his  weakness,  that  he  may  "present  every  man 
perfect  in  Christ  Jesus,"  and  that  he  may  go  in  and  out  before  his  people, 
and  see  the  pleasure  of  the  Lord  prosper,  is  and  shall  be  the  sincere 
prayer  of 

JOHN  FOHL. 


UNITEDBRETHRENCHURCH  73 

(Inscriptions  made  in  each  preacher's  handwriting) 

According  to  the  decision  of  the  Annual  Conference  John  Fohl  was  reap- 
pointed to  this  "Station."     It  being  the  year  of  our  Lord,  1844. 

John  Fohl  was  reappointed  to  this  "Station"  by  the  last  A.  Conference  for  the 
year  of  our  Lord  1845.  It  being  the  third  year  of  his  feeble  labours  at 
this  place. — Therefore  may  grace  Divine  sustain  him.     Amen  and  Amen. 

According  to  an  act  of  the  Annual  Conference  of  the  United  Brethren  in 
Christ  Jacob  S.  Kesler  w^as  appointed  to  labor  in  Shopps  Station  as  min- 
ister in  the  year  A.  D.  1  846. 

Jacob  S.  Kesler  was  reappointed  to  this  station  in  the  year  A.  D.  1847.  May 
God  bless  his  labours. 

Jacob  S.  Kesler  was  reappointed  to  Shopps  Station  in  the  year  A.  D.  1848,  it 
being  his  third  year  in  that  Station.  O  may  the  Lord  lay  plentifully  to 
his  hands,  so  that  he  may  feed  the  flock  of  Christ  during  his  stay  among 
the  people  of  this  charge.  The  Lord  sustain  him  by  grace  divine.  Amen 
and  Amen. 

A.  Owen  was  appointed  by  An.  Conference  to  labour  in  Shopp's  Station  dur- 
ing the  years  1849-50  and  51. 

J.  C.  Smith  was  appointed  by  Annual  Conf.  to  Shopp's  Station  as  Minister  to 
the  congregation  constituting  the  same  during  the  year  1852. 

According  to  the  decision  of  Annual  Conference  Samuel  Enterline  was  ap- 
pointed to  this  station.  It  being  the  year  of  our  Lord  1853.  January 
29th  Conference  met. 

Wm.  Wagner  was  appointed  by  the  Annual  Conference  of  the  United  Breth- 
ren in  Christ  to  the  charge  of  Shopp's  Station  during  the  year  commenc- 
ing Jan.  30th,   1854— returned  1855. 

Wm.  Owen  was  appointed  by  the  P.  E.  to  labor  on  Shopp's  Station  during 
the  year  1  856. 

John  Dickson  and  Samuel  K.  Deatrick  were  appointed  to  labor  on  Shopp's 
Station  for  the  year  commencing  Jan'y  30th,  1857. 

J.  Dickson  continued  in  connection  with  Hiram  Hummelbaugh  for  the  year 
1858 

J.  Dickson  continued  with  Daniel  Eberly  for  colleague  for  year  1859. 
J.  Dickson  continued  with  Jacob  F.  Wilt  for  colleague  for  the  year  1860. 


74 


LANDMARK    HISTORY    OF    THE 


TRUSTEES  FOR  THE  CHURCH  PROPERTY 

At  a  Quarterly  Conference  held  in  this  place  in  the  year  of  our  Lord 
1  84  I ,  Samuel  Eberly,  Henry  Batdorf  and  Samuel  Shopp  were  duly  appointed 
Trustees  for  the  Church  in  this  place,  who  are  still  in  authority,  February  20th, 
1844. 

Re-elected — Samuel  Eberly,  Henry  Batdorf  and  Samuel  Shopp.  Addi- 
tionally elected  John  Shopp  and  Jacob  Shopp  in  the  Spring  of  1847. 

At  the  Qy.  Conf.  at  Shopps  Station  Feb.  8,  1852,  Benjamin  Erb  was 
elected  Trustee  in  place  of  Jacob  Shopp. 

STEWARDS 
Samuel  Eberly  and  Henry  Batdorf  stewards  for  the  year  of  our  Lord  1843. 
Henry  Batdorf  and  Jacob  Shopp  stew^ards  for  the  year  1  844. 
Henry  Batdorf  and  Daniel  Musselman  for  the  year  1845. 
The  Same  continued  for  the  years  1846,   1847,  and  1848. 
Henry  Batdorf  steward  for  1849  and  1850. 

Henry  Batdorf  and  Samuel  Shopp,  stew^ards  for  the  year  1851. 
Henry  Batdorf  and  Benjamin  Longenecker  for  1852  and  1853. 


1843-46 

Anna  Shopp 
Christianna  Renner 
Elizabeth  Balmer 
Christian  Balmer 
Nancy  Balmer 
John  Shopp 
Louisa  Shopp 
Henry  Batdorf 
Isaac  Neidig 
Mary  Neidig 
Sarah  Neidig 
Samuel  Eberly 
Catharine  Eberly 
Samuel  Shopp 
Nancy  Shopp 
Anna  Shopp 
John  Shopp,  Jr. 
Samuel  Shopp,  Jr. 
Levi  Merkel 
Susanah  Merkel 
David  Shopp 
Lydia  Shopp 
Magdalena  Shopp 
Jacob  S.  Shopp 
Benjamin  Erb 
Daniel  Sherban 
Barbara  Miller 


CHURCH  MEMBERS 

Henry  Miller 
Susannah  Miller 
Abraham  Overholtzer 
Louisa  Overholtzer 
Jacob  Shopp 
Nancy  Shopp 
Henry  Shopp 
Hershe  Shopp 
Boyd  Glover 
Christina  Roop 
Margaret  Weaver 
Mary  Fohl 
Sarah  Myers 
Anna  Myers 
Simon  Myers 
Moses  Hoover 
Mary  Hoover 
Jacob  Spidle 
Frances  Spidle 
Benjamin  Longenecker 
Margaret  Longenecker 
Frederick  Stoner 
Catharine  Stoner 
George  Bow^ers 
Catharine  Bovvers 
Jacob  Fretz 
Mary  Fretz 
Lovina  Fretz 


Barbara  Fretz 
Anna  Shopp 
John  Raysor 
Marj  Raysor 
George  A.  Balsley 
Margaret  Balsley 
Martin  Fetrow 
Elizabeth  Fetrow 
Jacob  Basehore 
Catharine  Basehore 
Joseph  Willis 
Jane  Willis 
Elizabeth  Willis 
Susannah  Close 
George  Darr 
Rebecca  Darr 
Jacob  Wise 
Abraham  Coble 
Mary  Bitner 
Anna  Nicholas 
Maria  Nicholas 
Daniel  Musselman 
Maria  Wise 
Fredericca  Balsley 
Elizabeth  Hippie 
Maria  Worley 
Eliza  Worley 
Elizabeth  Hieland 


UNITED    BRETHREN    CHURCH 


75 


Michael  Wise 
Mary  Wise 
Mary  Ann  Wise 
John  Kautrnan 
Sarah  Kaufman 
Joseph  Warden 
Mary  Ann  Warden 


Rev.  Jacob  S.  Kesler 
1846-47.-48 

Henry  M.  Stouffer 
William  Balsley 
Samuel  Maloy 
Solomon  Markley 
Abraham  Mohler 
Jacob  Shank 
Isaac  Wolfelsberger 
Levi  Balmer 
Susan  Balmer 
Daniel  Kime 
Mary  W.  Kime 
Anthony  Barnhart 
Barbara  Barnhart 
Barbara  Smith 
Elizabeth  Shopp 
Wm.  Shopp 
Mary  Ann  Neidig 
Mary  Witzel 
Christian  Balmer,  Jr. 
Henry  Neidig 
Henry  Louden 
Rebecca  Louden 
John  Neidig 
John  Myers 
John  Miller 
Mary  Miller 
Christiann  Fetrow 
Mary  Sipe 
Lenah  Sipe 


Rev.  Alexander  Owen 
1849-50-51 

Jacob  Erb 
Elizabeth  Erb 
Thomas  Ream 
Elizabeth  Ream 
Jacob  Houseman 
Elizabeth  Houseman 
Margaret  Houseman 
Catharine  Houseman 
John  Reigard 
Catharine  Reigard 
Anna  Rupp 
Lydia  Brillhart 
Charles  Wolfensperger 
Jacob  Nisley 
Barbara  Nisley 
Henry  Ehrhart 
Edmund  Noel 
Elizabeth  Noel 
Jane  Heffelfinger 
George  Kocher 
Elizabeth  Kocher 
Peter  Rider 
Mrs.  Rider 
John  Reeser 
Christianna  Shopp 
Conrad  Keim 
Catharine  Keim 
Susanna  Gusherd 
John  Freese 
Susannah  Erb 

Rev.  Jacob  C.  Smith 
1852 

Daniel  Freese 
Peter  A.  Diller 
Catharine  Diller 
William  Straining 
Catharine  Straining 
Curtis  Heffelfinger 


Rev.  Samuel  Enterline 
1853 

Tirus  Enterline 
Elizabeth  Enterline 
Elizabeth  Enterline,  Jr. 
Samuel  Enterline,  Jr. 
John  Fisher 
Rosanna  Fisher 
Joseph  Baish 
Leah  Baish 
George  Kauffman 
Philip  Shettel 
Wm.  H.  Schwanger 
Nancy  Freese 
Susan  Schlosser 
Annetta  Spidel 
Eliza  Shambach 

Rev.  Wm.  Wagner 
1854-55 

Sarah  Wise 
Margreta  Kutz 
John  Wise 
John  C.  Gross 
Elizabeth  Gross 
John  Hoff 
Anna  Wardon 
Henry  Showers 
Jacob  Gear 
Margaret  Gear 
Charlotte  Donberg 
Elizabeth  Houseman 
Susan  Coble 
Alice  Lloyd 
Martha  Heffelfinger 
Wm.  Ebersole 
Eliza  Neidig 
Emeline  Reeser 
Elizabeth  Humberger 
Anna  Eberly 
Henry  Steigerwalt 
Mary  Steigerwalt 
Michael  Wise 


Revised  List  of  Church  Members  at  Shiremanstown,  March   12th,   1857, 
w^ith  additions  made  up  to  end  of  1860  by  Rev.  John  Dickson. 


1  John  Shopp 

2  Louisa  Shopp 

3  Henry  Batdorf 

4  Samuel  Eberly 

5  Catharine  Eberly 

6  Samuel  Shopp,  Sr. 


7  Nancy  Shopp 

8  John  Shopp,  Jr. 

9  Samuel  Shopp,  Jr. 
10  Christianna  Shopp 
I  1    Levi  Merkel 

12  Susanna  Merkel 


13  George  Brenner 

14  Anna  Brenner 

15  Jacob  Erb 

16  Elizabeth  Erb 
I  7  Benjamin  Erb 
18  Sarah  Myers 


76 


LANDMARK    HISTORY    OF    THE 


19  Benjamin  Longnecker 

20  Margaret  Longnecker 

21  Mary  Bitner 

22  Mary  Ann  Warden 

23  John  Kauffman 

24  Mary  Kauffman 

25  George  Balsiey 

26  Margaret  Balsiey 

27  Wm.  Balsiey 

28  Levi  Balmer 

29  Susan  Balmer 

30  Elizabeth  Balmer 

31  Mary  Sipe 

32  Elizabeth  Ream 

33  Edmund  Noel 

34  Elizabeth  Noel 

35  Jacob  Speidel 

36  Annetta  Speidel 

37  Abraham  Coble 

38  Maria  Worley 

39  Jane  Heffelfinger 

40  Curtis  Heffelfinger 

41  Martha  Heffelfinger 

42  Conrad  Keim 

43  Catharine  Keim 

44  Elizabeth  Kocher 

45  John  Freeze 

46  Daniel  Freeze 

47  Nancy  Freeze 

48  John  B.  Reeser 

49  Henry  M.  Stouffer 

50  John  Fisher 


5  I    Eliza  Houseman 

52  Christian  Houseman 

53  John  C.  Gross 

54  Elizabeth  Gross 

55  Margaret  Hoover 

56  Jacob  Gehr 

57  Margaret  Gehr 
.58  Henry  Steigerwalt 

59  Mary  Steigerwalt 

60  Charlotte  Humberger 

61  Alice  Lloyd 

62  Wm.  Ebersole 

63  Emeline  Reeser 

64  Anna  Eberly 

65  Lena  Sipe 

66  Susan  E.  Erb 

67  John  Neidig 

68  Eliza  Neidig 

69  Elmira  Snavely 

70  Henry  Fox 

71  Martha  Fox 

72  Jane  Shettel 

73  Anna  Balsiey 

74  Susan  Kaufman 

75  George  Kaufman 

76  John  Kaufman 

77  Wm.  Kaufman 

78  Sarah  Stoner 

79  Ephriam  A.  Humer 

80  Lydia  Humer 

81  Magdalene  Shopp 

82  Sarah  Shopp 


83  David  Shopp 

84  Rebecca  Shopp 

85  Catharine  Orwig 

86  Wm.  Shopp 

87  Sarah  Coble 

88  Isabel  A.  Shireman 

89  Anna  Weaver 

90  Samuel  Weaver 

91  Esther  Sipe 

92  Barbara  Smith 

93  John  Blair 

94  Adam  Smith 

95  Peter  Paul 

96  George  L.  Hehl 

97  Christian  Crider 

98  David  Cauffman 

99  Mrs.  Cauffman 

100  William  Smith 

101  Mrs.  Smith 

102  John  Lininger 

103  Mrs.  Lininger 

104  Mary  Bitner 

105  George  Buttorff 

106  Mrs.  Buttorff 

107  Philip  S.  Shettel 

108  Samuel  Gillan 

109  Peter  B.  Reeser 
I  10  Sarah  Darr 

I  1  I    Catharine  Waidley 
I  12  Harriet  Wise 
113  Catharine  Roop 


UNITED    BRETHREN     CHURCH 


77 


[Spelling  of  names  as  in  the  original  retained] 

Minutes  taken  at 

SIX  ANNUAL  CONFERENCES  OF 

THE  UNITED  BRETHREN  IN  CHRIST 

For  the  year  1833 

Published  by  W.  R.  Rhinehart  for  the  Church 

Hagerstown  :  Printed  by  Kapp  &  Reid 

1833 
PENNSYLVANIA    CONFERENCE 

Convened  on  the  ninth  of  April,  One  Thousand,  Eight  Hundred  and 
thirty-three,  in  Millerstown,  Lebanon  County,  Pa. 


Ques.   1.     Who  are  the  Members  of  this  Conference  ? 

Henry  Kumler,  Bishop 
WilUam  Brown,  Chairman 
John  Rider,  Secretary 

Felix  Lichty 

John  Sidman 

John  Lichty 

John  Potts 

Andrew  Ringer 

George  St.  Clair  Hussey 

Moses  Lawsin 

Christian  Crumling 

David  Fleck 

David  Bear 

Harmon  Ovvr 

Richard  Catlough 

David  Runk 

John  Crider 

John  Dumaw 

Peter  Swartz 

James  Sutton 

Valentine  Flegle 

John  Dayhoaf 


John  Neighdig 

Ezekiel  Boring 

Jacob  Erb 

James  Niman 

Jacob  Snider 

Christian  Shopp 

William  Kinnear 

John  Snider 

Henry  Young 

Abraham  Hershey 

George  Gilbert 

Frederick  Gilbert 

Christian  Smith 

Abraham  Hershey  (of  C.) 

Daniel  Phifer 

Jacob  Roop 

Joseph  Yordey 

Joseph  Shank 

John  Huffman 


Jacob  Dayboalt 
Thomas  Huston 
Simon  Dresback 
Joseph  Barger 
Samuel  Hoover 
Abraham  Hoover 
Jacob  Wenger 
Jacob  Felomley 
Peter  Hovecker 
Valentine  Hiskey 
Abraham  Hershey 
Abraham  Horner 
William  Crammer 
Mathias  Cline 
Jacob  G.  Erb 
John  Krack 
Samuel  Eberly 
Gideon  Smith 
Frederick  Flinchbaugh 
David  Ginerick,  Sen. 


Ques.  2.     Who  were  admitted  on  Trial  as  Preachers? 


George  Gier 
Jacob  Ritter 
David  Ginerick,  Jr. 


Samuel  Edder 
John  Smith 
Martin  Houser 


Michael  Moulpheart 
Casper  Lichty 
Francis  C.  Wilson 


Ques.  3.     Who  were  ordained  as  Elders  this  year  ? 

Jacob  Rupp 


78  LANDMARKHISTORYOFTHE 

Ques.  4.      Who  remain  as  Deacons  ? 

John  Potts 
Qyes.  5.     Who  have  located  this  year  ?     None. 
Ques.  6.     Who  have  Superannuated  this  year  ?     None. 
Ques.  7.     Who  have  been  expelled  this  year  ?     None. 
Ques.  8.     Who  have  v/ithdrawn  from  the  connexion  this  year  ? 

William  Kinnear 
Ques.  9.     Were  all  the  Preachers'  characters  examined  ? 

This  was  strictly  attended  to  by  calling  over  their  names  before 
the  Conference. 

Ques.  10.     Who  have  died  this  year?     None. 
Ques.  1  1 .     Were  any  transferred  this  year  ? 

William  Brown,  to  Virginia  Conference 

Ques.  12.     Who  are  candidates  for  the  Itinerancy  this  year? 

James  Niman  Francis  C.  Wilson  Frederick  Gilbert 

John  Henericks  John  Potts  Christian  Shupp 

Jacob  Erb  Ezekial  Boring  George  St.  Clair  Hussey 

Jacob  Rupp  George  Gilbert  Jacob  G.  Erb 

Jacob  Snider  Jacob  Ritter  Gideon  Smith 

John  Smith  John  Krack 

Ques.  I  3.     Where  are  the  Preachers  stationed  this  year  ? 

Huntingdon  District,  Ezekiel  Boring,  P.  E. 
Huntingdon  Circuit,  George  St.  Clair  Hussey 

Jacob  Ritter 
Clearfield  Circuit,  John  Potts 

Juniata  do         George  Gilbert 

Chambersburg    do         James  Niman 

John  Henericks 
Carlisle  District,  Jacob  Erb,  P.  E. 
Carlisle  Circuit,  Jacob  Snider 

Francis  C.  Wilson 
Dauphin  do      Jacob  Rupp 

John  Smith 
York  County  do     Christian  Shopp 

Baltimore  County     do     Frederick  Gilbert 
Baltimore,  John  Krack 
Canada  District,  Gideon  Smith,  P.  E. 
Canada  Circuit,  Jacob  G.  Erb 

Ques.  1  4.     When  and  w^here  shall  our  next  Conference  be  held  ? 
At  Greencastle,  Franklin  County,  Pa.,  April  8,  1  834. 


UNITED     BRETHREN     CHURCH 


79 


VIRGINIA    CONFERENCE 


Convened  on  the  seventeenth  of  April,  1833,  in  Pleasant  Valley, 
Washington  County,  Md. 

Ques.  1 .     Who  are  the  Members  of  this  Conference  ? 

Henry  Kumler,  Bishop 
George  Geeting,  Chairman 
Wm.  R.  Rhinehart,  Secretary 


Henry  Burtner 
John  Dorcas 
Peter  Witzle 
John  Huffard 
John  Clopper 
John  Haney 
George  Patterson 
Peter  Harmon 
John  Zahn 


John  Eckstine 
Conrad  Weast 
Jacob  Rhinehart 
WilHam  Knott 
Jacob  J.  Glossbrenner 
Joseph  W.  Hershey 
Harmon  Houk 
Jacob  Houk 


George  Huffman 
George  Rymal 
Samuel  Allenbaugh 
Michael  Thomas 
Jacob  Dayhoaf 
Noah  Woodyard 
Frederick  Hisey 
John  Henericks 
William  Brown 


Ques.  2. 


Ques.  3. 


Ques.  4. 
Ques.  5. 
Ques.  6. 
Ques.  7. 
Ques.  8. 
Qyes.  9. 


Qyes.  10. 


Ques. 
Ques. 


12. 


Who  were  admitted  on  trial  as  Preachers  ? 
William  R.  Coarsey 
George  A.  Shuey 

Who  were  ordained  as  Elders  this  year  ? 
Jacob  Houk 
George  Huffman 
Jacob  J.  Glossbrenner 

Who  remain  as  Deacons  ?     None. 

Have  any  located  this  year  ?     None. 

Who  Superannuated  this  year  ?     None. 

Have  any  been  expelled  this  year  ?     None. 

Have  any  v^dthdrawn  from  the  connexion  this  year  ?     None. 

Were  all  the  Preachers'  characters  examined  ? 

This  was  strictly  attended  to  by  calling  over  their  names  before 
the  Conference. 
Who  vv^ere  transferred  this  year  ? 

John  Hendricks,  to  the  Pennsylvania  Conference. 
Who  died  during  the  last  year?     None. 
Who  are  the  candidates  for  the  Itinerancy  ? 


William  Brown 
George  Rymal 
William  R.  Coarsey 


John  Dorcas 
John  Haney 
Peter  Witzle 


Jacob  J.  Glossbrenner 
Joseph  W.  Hershey 
William  Knott 


Ques.  1  3.     Where  are  the  Preachers  stationed  this  year  ? 
Hagers-town  District,  William  Brown,  P.  E. 


80  LANDMARK    HISTORY 

Hagers  town  Circuit,  John  Dorcas 

William  R.  Coarsey 
Staunton  District,  John  Haney,  P.  E. 
Staunton  Circuit,  Jacob  J.  Glossbrenner 

George  Rymal 
Woodstock  do     Peter  Witzle 

William  Knott 
South  Branch  do  Joseph  M.  Hershey 
Ques.  1  4.     When  and  where  shall  our  next  Conference  be  held  ? 

Genning's  Branch,  Augusta  County,  Va.,  April  21,1  834. 

In  like  form  and  manner  are  given  the  minutes  of  the  Muskingum,  Scioto, 
Miami,  and  Indiana  Conferences.  I  have  selected  the  Pennsylvania  and 
Virginia  because  they  contain  the  names  of  the  men  w^ho  but  three  years 
before  formed  one  body,  and  in  five  years  later  gave  life  to  a  third,  and  after 
eight  more  years  divided  into  tw^o ;  so  that  in  these  re-published  minutes  w^e 
have  the  names  of  those  noble  men  w^hose  records  are  in  the  Pennsylvania, 
Virginia,  Allegheny  and  East  Pennsylvania  Conferences. 

The  publisher.  Rev.  William  F.  Rhinehart,  promises :  "In  the  publication 
of  our  next  minutes  w^e  expect  to  give  our  readers  an  account  of  the  San- 
dusky and  Wabash  Annual  Conferences. 

"N.  B. — The  follow^ing  Bishops  w^ere  duly  elected  at  our  last  General 
Conference :  Henry  Kumler  (re-elected),  William  Brow^n,  Samuel  Hestand, 
and  John  McNamer,  Assistant  Bishop — to  aid  Henry  Kumler,  or  to  act  in  his 
place  in  case  of  sickness,  or  other  adverse  circumstances." 


■J.H: 


PIONEERS  AND  LANDMARKS 

OF 
IN 

%urxm5Ux  anft  Bork  (Haunttcs 

BY 
REV.    I.    H.    ALBRIGHT,    A.M.,    Ph.D. 

Historical  Secretary  of  the  East  Penns\)lvania  Conference 


p«faa 


N  gathering  the  facts  of  history  of  the  rise  and  progress 
of  the  United  Brethren  Church  in  the  original  Confer- 
ence territory  we  have  found  great  pleasure.  We  have 
been  engaged  in  doing  this  kind  of  w^ork  for  quite  a 
number  of  years,  for  our  own  satisfaction  rather  than  w^ith  any  in- 
tent of  publishing  the  results  of  our  research  in  book  form.  The 
w^ork  grew  in  our  hands  and  became  increasingly  fascinating  with 
the  passing  years.  We  found  that  many  facts  of  a  most  inspiring 
character  in  the  early  struggles  and  triumphs  of  the  Church  were 
yet  to  be  recorded,  and  that  much  that  is  spiritually  refreshing  and 
intellectually  interesting  had  been  preserved  only  in  the  memory 
of  individuals.  The  meagreness  of  the  early  records  is  to  be  de- 
plored. Many  of  these  were  lost  or  destroyed  as  being  of  no  value, 
and  such  as  have  been  preserved  are  very  incomplete  in  their  ac- 
counts. In  this  compilation  of  facts  vv^e  did  the  best  w^e  could  w^ith 
the  data  at  hand,  being  restricted  also  to  the  two  counties  assigned 
us.  We  have  not  tried  to  cover  this  entire  field,  but  chiefly  those 
parts  of  it  in  w^hich  our  fathers  commenced  operations  and  in  w^hich 
they  succeeded  in  laying  the  foundations  of  the  present  thriving 
churches. 

We  are  greatly  indebted  to  the  follow^ing  books  of  reference : 
"The  History  of  the  United  Brethren  Church,"  by  Rev.  D.  Berger, 
D.D.  ;  "Huber's  Autobiography,"  by  Rev.  Samuel  Huber;  "Our 
Bishops,"  by  Rev.  H.  A.  Thompson,  D.D. ;  "Life  of  Otterbein,"  by 
Rev.  A.  W.  Drury,  D.D. ;  also  old  files  of  the  "Religious  Telescope," 
"Monthly  Itinerant,"  and  the  "Annual  Conference  Minutes."  We 
also  feel  very  much  indebted  to  Rev.  G.  W.  M.  Rigor,  whose  es- 
tate, at  the  hands  of  his  sons,  Edward  Rigor  and  Mark  Rigor,  sup- 
plied us  with  much  valuable  data ;  also  to  quite  a  number  of  min- 
isters and  laymen  for  much  kindness  shown  in  furnishing  us  with 
many  items  of  interest. 

I.  H.  ALBRIGHT. 

May  4,  1910. 


85 


CHAPTER     I 
ORIGIN  OF  THE  CHURCH  OF  THE  UNITED  BRETHREN  IN  CHRIST 

AN  AMERICAN-BORN  CHURCH— ITS  FOUNDERS— THEIR   PREPARATION  FOR  THE 

WORK  OF  EVANGELISM— FORMALITY  AND  DEADNESS  OF  THE  CHURCHES 

—SYMPATHY  WITH   THE   WORK— OPPOSITION  TO   THE   WORK— 

BOEHM'S   CONVERSION    AND   EXCLUSION— MEETING  AT 

ISAAC  LONG'S— AN  OUTING. 

ITHIN  the  bounds  of  the  East  Pennsylvania  Annual  Confer- 
ence the  history  of  the  Church  of  the  United  Brethren  in 
Christ  begins.  Here  Rev.  William  Otterbein,  one  of  its 
founders,  served  his  first  and  second  pastorates,  and  here 
he  also  entered  into  that  larger  and  deeper  religious  ex- 
perience that  furnished  the  key  to  his  subsequent  fruitful 
ministry.  Here  Rev.  Martin  Boehm,  his  associate  in  the  work,  vv^as  born  ;  here 
he  experienced  the  joys  of  salvation,  and  lived  nearly  all  his  life.  While  his 
labors  extended  into  other  sections  of  the  State,  and  into  other  States,  it  was 
within  this  territory,  not  far  from  his  own  home  near  Lancaster,  Pa.,  where 
his  labors  in  the  Lord  w^ere  especially  fruitful.  Here  he  died,  and  his  precious 
remains  are  buried  to  await  the  resurrection  morn.  Most  of  all,  within  the 
bounds  of  this  Conference  the  Church  received  its  spiritual  birth  in  the  year 
1 766-68,  although  it  w^as  not  formed  into  an  organized  body  until  about 
thirty-four  years  later. 

Thus  we  see  that  the  Church  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  on  American 
soil.  It  is  distinctly  American  in  its  polity  and  form  of  government,  and  is 
admirably  well  adapted  to  meet  the  spiritual  needs  of  all  American  citizens 
who  would  enter  it  by  the  open  door.  From  the  small  beginnings  at  the 
"great  meeting"  held  at  Isaac  Long's  barn,  under  the  blessing  of  God  and  a 
spiritual  leadership,  the  Church  has  grown  and  prospered,  until  to-day  it  has 
become  the  second  strongest  among  the  American-born  denominations  in  the 
United  States,  the  Disciples  of  Christ  standing  first. 

Nearly  all  the  strong  churches  of  our  land  were  born  in  the  Eastern 
Hemisphere.  They  were  transported  westv/ard  across  the  sea,  and  their 
missionaries  flocked   to   these   shores   at  an  early  day  in  our  country's  history 

87 


88  LANDMARKHISTORYOFTHE 

and  planted  their  banners  in  every  available  locality.  They  came  here  as  so 
many  exotic  plants,  but  here  they  found  a  fertile  soil  for  their  future  growth 
and  development.  Ministers  and  members  from  abroad  have  been  coming 
here  in  one  constant  stream  for  a  century  and  a  half  or  more,  and  have  been 
added  to  these  folds.  Besides  this,  numerous  native  converts  have  swelled 
their  numbers,  until  to-day  the  Lutherans,  twenty  bodies ;  the  Baptists,  sixteen 
bodies ;  the  Methodists,  fifteen  bodies ;  the  Mennonites,  fourteen  bodies ;  the 
Presbyterians,  twelve  bodies,  and  the  Congregationalists,  composed  of  numer- 
ous independent  bodies,  can  count  their  communicants  by  the  millions  and 
hundreds  of  thousands.  Not  a  few^  of  the  valuable  accessions  to  these  churches 
came  to  them  from  United  Brethren  altars,  especially  during  the  latter  part  of 
the  eighteenth  century  and  the  beginning  of  the  nineteenth,  before  the  fathers 
of  our  Church  had  as  yet  seriously  considered  the  propriety  of  organizing 
their  converts  into  a  separate  denomination.  Our  early  preachers  were  con- 
tent to  spend  their  time  and  energies  in  the  one  great  work  of  w^inning  souls 
to  Christ,  and  in  this  they  w^ere  eminently  successful.  They  did  not  seek  to 
establish  a  new^  church,  but  held  on  to  their  early  church  connections  until 
they  were  practically  driven  out  as  the  undesirable  products  of  Pietism  and 
the  "revival  movement."  In  our  times  church  relations  are  not  held  as  sacred 
as  they  w^ere  a  century  ago.  "Church  bonds  then  w^ere  made  of  steel  and 
garnished  with  gold."  Luther,  Wesley  and  others  v^ho  became  founders  of 
churches,  did  not  start  out  with  the  idea  of  forming  a  new  organization.  They 
sought  to  proclaim  the  saving  truths  of  the  Gospel,  and  w^hen  God  in  his 
providence  opened  the  way  for  the  organization  of  their  converts  into  a 
separate  church,  they  wisely  did  so.  They  w^ere  members  of  the  churches  of 
sturdy  ancestors  that  held  the  faith  and  fellowship  of  the  fathers.  In  these 
churches  of  the  Reformation  they  had  been  nurtured,  and  they  loved  them 
to  the  last.  It  is  no  w^onder  that  Otterbein,  though  long  a  pastor  of  an  inde- 
pendent church  and  a  bishop  in  the  United  Brethren  Church,  like  the  immor- 
tal Wesley,  never  separated  himself  from  the  church  of  his  father  and  mother. 
Others  like  him  held  to  their  old  fellowship  as  long  as  they  could  do  so,  and 
many  tearfully  let  drop  and  die  their  old  church  relations,  and  clung  to  the 
new  organization  as  it  slowly  rose  into  being.  Although  this  spiritual  awak- 
ening began  among  the  fathers  as  early  as  1  766,  and  continued  in  its  saving 
power  among  them  v^ith  increased  efficiency,  it  was  not  until  the  year  I  789 
that  a  conference  w^as  held  in  the  parsonage  of  Otterbein's  church  in  Balti- 
more, Md.,  to  consider  the  interests  of  the  growing  congregations  that  looked 
to  them  for  spiritual  guidance.  This  was  probably  the  first  rather  indefinite 
step  toward  the  formation  of  a  new  denomination.  The  first  regular  annual 
conference  w^as  not  held  until  the  year  1 800,  and  the  first  class  w^as  not 
formally  organized  until  some  years  later,  and  the  first  general  conference 
was  not  held  until  the  year  1815. 

Thus  in  the  providence  of  God  the  fathers  were  gradually  but  surely  led 
to  take  steps  of  which  they  had  not  dreamed,  to  build  a  structure  for  which 
they  had    not   planned.     Among   the   fathers  who   engaged  in  this  work  two- 


UNITEDBRETHRENCHURCH  89 

names  stand  at  the  head.  Others  either  derived  their  impulse  from  their 
persevering  zeal,  or  submitted  to  their  leadership  ;  so  that  it  may  be  said, 
with  no  detriment  to  their  fame,  that  without  them  the  United  Brethren 
Church  had  not  been.  Emerson  truly  said,  "All  history  resolves  itself  very 
easily  into  the  biography  of  a  few  stout  and  earnest  souls."  William  Otter- 
bein,  of  the  Reformed  Church,  and  Martin  Boehm,  of  the  Mennonite  Church, 
w^ere  the  leaders  in  the  new^  aw^akening,  and  they  themselves  for  a  w^hile  w^ere 
not  in  the  possession  of  the  necessary  spiritual  equipment,  which  they  later 
received,  for  leadership  in  an  aggressive  campaign  in  soul-saving. 

Rev.  William  Otterbein  was  born  in  the  tow^n  of  Dillenburg,  in  the  prov- 
ince of  Nassau,  now  known  as  Weisbaden,  Germany,  on  the  third  day  of 
June,  I  726.  He  received  a  thorough  classical  and  theological  education  at 
Herborn,  spent  a  short  time  as  "house-teacher,"  preceptor  and  pastor  in  his 
native  land.  He  became  a  missionary  to  America  in  I  752.  He  served  as 
pastor  of  the  German  Reformed  Church  in  Lancaster,  Pa.,  Tulpehocken,  Pa., 
Frederick,  Md.,  York,  Pa.,  and  of  an  independent  church  in  Baltimore,  Md., 
which  he  served  during  the  last  forty  years  of  his  life,  and  which  became  the 
nucleus  of  the  United  Brethren  Church,  of  which  he  was  the  founder. 

Rev.  Martin  Boehm  was  born  November  I  3,  I  725,  on  a  farm  near  Lan- 
caster, Pa.,  where  he  was  reared.  He  had  only  a  common  school  education. 
He  was  chosen  by  lot,  according  to  a  well  known  custom  among  the  Men- 
nonites,  to  be  a  minister  in  1  756,  was  converted  to  God  in  1  758,  made  a 
bishop  in  1  759,  and  became  an  associate  with  Mr.  Otterbein  in  the  founding 
of  the  United  Brethren  Church  after  his  exclusion  from  the  Mennonite 
Church. 

Every  faithful  Bible  student  will  notice  that  whenever  God  would  mani- 
fest himself  in  power  to  his  people  or  to  his  enemies,  it  seemed  to  be  neces- 
sary to  find  some  one  through  whom  he  could  work.  He  could  begin  with 
one  man,  but  he  must  at  least  have  one  to  begin  with :  Abram,  for  the  revival 
of  two  thousand  years  before  Christ ;  Moses,  for  the  revival  in  Egypt ;  Gideon, 
in  the  days  of  the  Judges ;  Peter,  with  one  hundred  and  nineteen  other 
spirit-filled  men  and  women  at  Pentecost ;  Luther,  Melanchthon  and  Zwingli, 
in  the  Reformation  period  ;  Wesley,  and  Whitfield  in  more  modern  times, 
and  Moody,  Torrey  and  Gipsy  Smith  of  our  own  day.  Whenever  the  human 
instrument  is  ready,  it  finds  God  waiting  for  him.  Whatever  Otterbein's 
earlier  Christian  experience  or  spiritual  equipment  for  service  was,  it  was  his 
later  spiritual  baptism,  received  while  pastor  in  Lancaster,  Pa.,  that  furnished 
the  key  to  his  subsequent  fruitful  ministry.  While  here  he  sought  his  closet, 
and  there  poured  out  his  soul  to  God  in  prayer  until  he  obtained  that  knowl- 
edge of  spiritual  things  which  in  after  years  made  him  so  competent  to  give 
advice  to  others  w^ho  were  seeking  the  way  of  life.  After  this  experience  he 
more  firmly  grasped  the  two  doctrinal  elements  which  gave  rise  to  the  exis- 
tence of  a  new^  organization,  namely,  the  doctrine  of  repentance  and  assur- 
ance, the  latter  of  which  especially  had  so  often  fallen  into  obscurity,  but 
which  is  so  essential  to  a  full  Christian  experience. 


90  LANDMARK    HISTORYOFTHE 

Martin  Boehm,  likewise,  after  he  was  called  by  lot  to  the  ministry,  gave 
himself  to  much  prayer,  and  in  answer  to  it  he  aw^oke  to  new  life,  new^ 
thoughts,  new  faith,  new  love.  Set  on  fire  by  the  spirit  of  truth,  the  very  life- 
germs  of  the  United  Brethren  Church  began  in  the  hearts  and  brains  of  Mr. 
Otterbein  and  Mr.  Boehm,  whom  God  raised  up  to  be  the  leaders  in  ushering 
in  a  new  era  of  evangelical  life  in  America.  God  was  seeking  through  these 
spiritual -minded  men  to  awaken  the  dead  and  formal  churches  to  the  opening 
era  of  evangelical  life.  But  they  turned  a  deaf  ear  and  a  cold  shoulder ;  hence 
a  new  organization  was  called  into  being.  The  new  religious  movement 
grew  and  developed  step  by  step,  much  against  the  disinclination  of  the 
leaders  to  organize  a  separate  church.  "They  were  forced  by  the  hand  of 
Providence,  in  order  to  render  effective  and  permanent  this  phase  of  evan- 
gelical life,  to  permit  those  heaven-blest  elements  to  crystallize  into  a  distinct 
and  separate  church,  which  in  the  year  1 800  assumed  the  name  it  now 
bears." 

The  prevailing  conditions  in  the  churches  of  that  time  were  of  such  a 
character  as  to  justify  a  general  movement  toward  a  separation.  Religious 
vitality  was  low,  and  the  outward  life  of  very  many  church  members,  even  of 
those  who  posed  as  leaders  and  teachers,  was  far  from  being  Christlike. 
"True  spiritual  life  was  suppressed,  and  dead  formalities,  often  associated 
with  gross  immoralities,  held  sway  in  the  church,  and  those  who  sought  to 
live  godly  lives  were  ridiculed  and  scoffed  at,  and  persecuted  by  their  un- 
spiritual  associates  in  the  church." 

Schisms  in  the  heavenly  fold  are  generally  looked  upon  with  disfavor  by 
an  enlightened  Christian  public  of  to-day,  a  time  in  which  the  spirit  of  Chris- 
tian union  is  widely  cherished  among  the  Protestant  denominations.  Yet  in 
times  past,  under  the  providence  of  God,  separation  was  sometimes  a  source 
of  the  greatest  good.  From  many  trustworthy  sources  we  gather  evidence  as 
to  the  low  state  of  spiritual  life  that  prevailed  among  the  churches  of  America 
in  the  period  which  brought  Mr.  Otterbein  to  this  country,  and  shortly  after 
the  leaders  of  the  Methodist  movement.  Dr.  J.  W.  Nevin,  of  the  Reformed 
Church,  a  distinguished  writer,  who  strongly  disapproved  Mr.  Otterbein's 
methods,  gave  some  strong  testimony  in  1842  of  the  dearth  of  spirituality  in 
this  early  period  as  follows :  "To  be  confirmed,  and  then  to  take  the  sacra- 
ment occasionally,  was  counted  by  the  multitude  all  that  was  necessary  to 
make  one  a  good  Christian,  if  only  a  tolerable  decency  of  outward  life  were 
maintained  beside,  without  any  regard  at  all  to  the  leligion  of  the  heart. 
True,  serious  piety  was  indeed  often  treated  with  marked  scorn.  In  the 
bosom  of  the  church  itself  it  w^as  stigmatized  as  Schwaermerei,  Kopfhaengerei, 
or  a  miserable,  drivelling  Methodism.  The  idea  of  a  new  birth  was  treated 
as  a  pietistic  w^himery.  Experimental  religion  in  all  its  forms  was  eschewed 
as  a  new-fangled  invention  of  cunning  impostors,  brought  in  to  turn  the  heads 
of  the  weak  and  lead  captive  silly  w^omen.  Prayer-meetings  w^ere  held  to  be 
a  spiritual  abomination.  Family  w^orship  -was  a  species  of  saintly  affectation, 
barely  tolerable   in    the   case   of  ministers  (though   many  of   them    gloried  in 


UNITED    BRETHREN    CHURCH  91 

having  no  altar  in  their  home),  but  absolutely  disgraceful  for  common  Chris- 
tians. To  show  an  awakened  concern  on  the  subject  of  religion  or  a  disposi- 
tion to  call  on  God  in  daily  prayer,  w^as  to  incur  certain  reproach."  This  is 
rather  a  dark  picture  of  the  existing  conditions,  and  it  is  hardly  overdraw^n, 
coming  from  the  source  it  does.  Revivals  in  the  churches  w^ere  then  of  rare 
occurrence,  and  w^ere  looked  upon  with  great  disfavor.  Such  divine  visita- 
tions were  metw^ith  all  the  bitterness  and  malevolence  that  could  characterize 
the  adversaries  of  such  means  of  grace.  So  widespread  w^as  this  state  of 
lifeless  formality  that  even  "a  converted  minister  w^as  as  great  a  phenomenon 
as  a  comet  in  the  heavens." 

The  doctrines  of  evangelical  Christianity  seem  to  have  been  almost  lost 
sight  of.  The  moral  condition  of  the  Germans  of  America  was  especially 
deplorable,  and  very  little  was  being  done  for  its  improvement.  Mr.  Otter- 
bein  and  his  co-laborers,  therefore,  occupied  a  unique  position  as  apostles  to 
the  Germans,  and  for  the  United  Brethren  Church  there  was  at  this  time  a 
distinct  field  in  God's  vineyard  that  did  not  encroach  upon  the  field  of  any 
other  active  occupant.  In  their  preaching  they  presented  the  whole  Gospel, 
and  gave  special  prominence  to  its  saving  truths.  While  they  met  with  much 
opposition  and  heaped  upon  themselves  severe  censure,  it  is  refreshing  to 
know^  that  they  also  had  many  sympathetic  hearers  among  all  classes,  w^ho 
w^ere  being  led  to  a  knowledge  of  saving  grace,  w^hose  vision  w^as  being  en- 
larged, whose  spiritual  impulses  w^ere  being  quickened,  and  who  w^ere  seeking 
a  closer  fellowship  with  the  Lord.  Among  these  w^ere  at  least  six  ministers 
w^ho  were  prominently  connected  w^ith  the  Reformed  Church,  as  follow^s: 
Rev.  William  Hendel,  a  brother-in-law  of  Mr.  Otterbein  ;  Rev.  Daniel  Wagner, 
Rev.  Anthony  Hautz,  Rev.  Frederick  Henop,  Rev.  Jacob  Weimer,  and  Rev. 
Benedict  Swope.  While  these  brethren  retained  their  active  connection  with 
their  church,  they  not  only  gave  to  Mr.  Otterbein  their  cordial  sympathy,  but 
also  in  some  features  of  his  w^ork  entered  into  practical  co-operation  w^ith 
him,  because  they  recognized  the  value  of  his  labors.  For  several  years,  be- 
ginning w^ith  May,  1  774,  they  w^ere  associated  vs^ith  him  and  others  in  holding 
a  special  form  of  religious  meetings  in  quite  a  number  of  places  with  much 
spiritual  profit.  They  formed  themselves  into  bands  or  unions,  the  purpose 
of  w^hich  w^as  to  promote  their  own  personal  piety,  and  to  deepen  the  spiritual 
life  in  the  hearts  of  others.  In  this  move  they  adopted  the  precise  method  of 
P.  J.  Speener,  the  founder  of  the  Pietistic  movement  in  Germany,  which  took 
its  rise  in  the  latter  half  of  the  seventeenth  century.  Pietism  w^as  only  anoth- 
er name  of  w^hat  in  our  day  would  be  called  a  revival  of  religion,  and  arose 
to  supply  life  in  the  place  of  a  dead  orthodoxy,  and  w^as  so  named  from  the 
associations  that  w^ere  formed  for  the  promotion  of  piety.  Its  aim  w^as  not 
to  form  a  separate  denomination,  but  to  form  little  associations  w^ithin  the 
different  churches  w^ith  a  view^  of  deepening  the  spiritual  life  and  the  attain- 
ment of  a  more  exemplary  outw^ard  Christian  life.  Correctness  of  creed  had 
taken  the  place  of  deep  religious  feeling  and  purity  of  life.  Christian  faith 
had  been  dismissed  from,  the  seat  of  the  heart,  where  Luther  had  placed  it,  to 


92  LANDMARK     HISTORYOFTHE 

the  cold  region  of  the  intellect.  Purity  of  creed  was  more  highly  prized  than 
holiness  of  heart.  "The  form  of  sound  words  swathed  a  lifeless  skeleton." 
The  chief  apology  for  the  introduction  of  the  extraordinary  measures  by 
Speener  w^as  the  dead  formality  that  so  largely  prevailed  in  his  time,  and  the 
enlightened  Christians  generally,  despite  the  excesses  and  w^eakness  of  Piet- 
ism, are  thankful  that  God  raised  up  such  a  man.  Pietism  w^as  the  w^ing  of 
protection  against  the  blasting  effects  of  rationalism,  which  w^as  so  prevalent 
in  Germany,  the  land  of  Mr.  Otterbein.  He  and  other  spiritual-minded  men 
w^ere  in  a  marked  degree  inclined  to  Pietism.  John  Wesley,  the  founder  of 
Methodism,  drew^  largely  from  the  same  source.  It  is  a  fact  of  profound 
significance,  vv^ell  know^n  to  all  students  of  history,  that  not  only  the  German 
Reformation,  but  every  great  revival  of  religion  is  the  result  of  the  w^ork  of 
some  one  or  more  persons  vs^ho  enjoyed  this  spiritual  union  with  God,  and 
through  whose  deep  experience  of  spiritual  truth  God  could  speak  to  other 
persons  effectively.  Under  the  adverse  conditions  in  the  church  of  more 
than  a  century  ago,  it  ought  not  to  surprise  us  that  Otterbein,  Hendel,  Wag- 
ner, Weimer  and  others,  devout  men  of  God,  desired  a  more  promising  be- 
ginning for  the  work  that  was  to  be  done  among  the  Germans  in  America, 
where  already  the  aggravated  evils,  resulting  from  a  promiscuous  church 
membership,  of  the  most  w^retched  elements  of  the  Old  World,  were  becom- 
ing more  and  more  manifest. 

We  have  reasons  for  believing  that  Mr.  Otterbein  cherished  the  hope  of 
seeing  this  revival  movement  spread  among  the  Reformed  churches,  since  all 
who  had  hitherto  co-operated  w^ith  him  were  leading  members  of  that  church. 
But  such  hope  ended  in  disappointment,  and  the  necessity  soon  appeared  of 
giving  attention  to  the  work  of  evangelism  among  the  churches  he  visited 
writhout  such  formal  co-operation.  The  Coetus  at  no  time  looked  upon  the 
movement  with  favor,  and  most  of  those  who  took  an  active  part  in  it  decided 
that  further  co-operation  with  it  was  hazardous.  While  personally  they  con- 
tinued to  be  on  friendly  terms  with  Mr.  Otterbein,  they  came  to  regard  with 
apprehension  or  disfavor  the  more  decided  measures  that  he  deemed  neces- 
sary to  employ.  Up  to  the  year  I  777  quite  a  number  of  awakened  persons 
of  all  classes  had  been  received  into  the  bands  or  unions  that  were  organized 
incident  to  the  work,  and  this  fact  among  other  things  seemed  to  impress  the 
leaders  of  the  Reformed  Church  that  the  movement  among  them  had  reached 
its  limit.  While  the  ministers  who  had  co-operated  with  Mr.  Otterbein  now 
confined  their  labors  to  the  regular  channel,  the  laymen,  however,  did  not  so 
generally  withdraw^  from  the  work  on  w^hich  they  had  entered.  Among  these 
w^ere  Henry  Weidner,  Adam  Lehman,  Leonard  Harbaugh,  Peter  Kemp  and 
George  A.  Geeting,  all  of  whom  afterward  became  active  and  successful 
ministers  in  the  United  Brethren  Church.  In  subsequent  times,  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, Maryland  and  Virginia,  where  the  revival  movement  had  already  taken 
hold,  Mr.  Otterbein  and  those  affiliating  with  him  found  a  v/elcome  field. 

Mr.  Otterbein's  evangelistic  efforts  were  confined  chiefly  among  the  mem- 
bers  and   adherents   of   the    Reformed   Church,   as   he  was  a  member  of  this 


UNITEDBRETHRENCHURCH  93 

church.  Mr.  Boehm's  field  of  operation  in  spiritual  things  was  among  the 
Mennonites,  to  whom  he  belonged.  The  leaders  of  the  Mennonite  Church 
were  more  intolerant  in  dealing  with  Mr.  Boehm  than  the  Reformed  people 
were  in  dealing  with  Mr.  Otterbein.  While  Mr.  Otterbein  was  threatened 
with  expulsion  or  exclusion  from  the  Coetus,  such  threats  failed  to  produce 
any  effect  on  the  minds  of  most  of  his  ministerial  brethren.  At  one  time,  in 
answer  to  such  a  threat  from  a  brother  minister,  he  replied :  "The  Coetus  is 
too  late ;  the  exclusion  is  past."  Dr.  Benjamin  Kurtz  is  the  author  of  the  fol- 
lowing statement  concerning  Mr.  Otterbein :  "During  the  latter  part  of  his 
life  he  was  no  longer  regarded  as  a  minister  of  the  German  Reformed 
Church."  It  is  altogether  likely  that  he  did  not  of  his  own  accord  ask  to  have 
his  name  taken  from  the  records  of  the  church,  and  he  was  "too  heavy '  for 
them  to  exclude.  While  his  name,  doubtless,  remained  on  the  records  of  the 
Coetus,  his  heart,  his  counsels,  his  sympathies  w^ere  all  w^ith  the  people  w^ho 
stood  for  vital  godliness,  and  his  former  church  relations  gave  him  very  little 
concern.  The  historians  of  the  Reformed  Church  say  that  "He  w^as  never 
separated  formally  from  the  German  Reformed  Church." 

Mr.  Boehm  was  handled  in  quite  a  different  manner  by  his  brethren. 
They  w^ould  not  tolerate  his  affiliations  w^ith  the  revival  movement.  They 
"excluded  him  from  the  communion  and  counsel  of  the  brotherhood."  Our 
readers  w^ill  be  greatly  interested  in  following  the  steps  that  he  took  that  led 
him  out  of  darkness  into  light,  and  out  of  a  mere  formal  religion  into  a  life 
of  vital  fellow^ship  v^ith  Christ.  Mr.  Otterbein  and  he  started  a  train  of 
spiritual  blessings  that  w^ere  destined  to  be  an  inspiration  to  thousands  of 
their  followers,  of  w^hich  even  w^e  in  our  day  are  the  partakers.  Mr.  Boehm 
had  been  called  by  the  Mennonite  Church  in  I  756  to  be  a  minister,  but  he 
felt  that  he  had  no  message  for  the  people.  Although  he  applied  himself 
diligently  to  the  study  of  the  Scriptures  and  to  earnest  prayer,  his  efforts  at 
preaching  resulted  in  failures.  He  said,  "To  be  a  preacher  and  yet  to  have 
nothing  to  preach  or  say,  but  to  stammer  out  a  few^  w^ords  and  then  be 
obliged  to  sit  down  in  shame  and  remorse,"  w^as  humiliating  to  him.  His 
repeated  failures  greatly  distressed  his  mind.  But  he  believed  in  prayer,  and 
he  prayed  more  earnestly  and  more  frequently  for  grace  and  help  from  God 
to  enable  him  to  teach  others  the  w^ay  of  salvation.  While  thus  engaged  in 
praying  earnestly  for  aid  to  preach,  the  thought  occurred  to  his  mind  as 
though  some  one  spake  to  him,  saying,  "You  pray  for  grace  to  teach  others 
the  w^ay  of  salvation ;  why  don't  you  pray  for  your  ow^n  salvation  ?"  This 
thought  clung  to  him  so  persistently  that  his  agony  became  very  great.  "One 
day,"  he  says,  "I  v/as  ploughing  in  the  field,  and  kneeled  down  at  each  end 
of  the  furrow  to  pray.  The  word  'verlohren'  (lost,  lost)  w^ent  w^ith  me  every 
round.  Midway  in  the  field  I  could  go  no  further,  but  sank  behind  the 
plough,  crying,  'Lord,  save ;  I  am  lost.'  Then  came  to  me  the  answ^er,  as  a 
voice,  'I  am  come  to  seek  and  to  save  that  w^hich  is  lost.'  In  a  moment  a 
stream  of  joy  was  poured  over  me. "  Thus,  after  a  severe  and  prolonged 
struggle,  and    in   answer   to   unceasing   prayer,  he    stepped    into    the  life  and 


94  LANDMARK     HISTORYOFTHE 

liberty  of  the  people  of  God.  After  this  blessed  experience,  Mr.  Boehm  at 
once  left  his  plough  in  the  field,  and  went  to  his  house  to  tell  his  wife  the 
glad  news.  He  found  that  his  tongue  was  loosened  now^.  He  no  longer 
stammered.  With  the  emancipation  of  the  heart  came  liberty  of  utterance. 
He  says,  "As  before  this  I  w^ished  the  Sabbath  far  off,  now^  1  wished  it  w^ere 
to-morrow^.  Sunday  came ;  the  elder  brother  preached,  and  then  I  arose  to 
tell  my  experience  since  my  call  to  the  ministry.  When  speaking  of  my 
estate  and  agony  of  mind,  some  in  the  congregation  began  to  w^eep.  This 
moved  me  to  speak  of  our  fallen  and  lost  condition,  and  of  repentance.  The 
Sabbath  following  it  was  the  same,  and  much  more.  Before  I  w^as  done  I 
found  myself  in  the  midst  of  the  congregation,  w^here  some  w^ere  weeping 
aloud.  This  caused  considerable  commotion  in  our  church,  as  w^ell  as  among 
the  people  generally.  It  w^as  all  new^ ;  none  of  us  had  ever  heard  or  seen  it 
before.  A  new^  creation  appeared  to  rise  up  before  me,  and  around  me. 
Now^  Scripture,  before  mysterious  and  like  a  dead  letter  to  me,  w^as  plain  of 
interpretation  ;  w^as  all  spirit  and  life  {alles  Geisl  und  Leben)."  A  live  coal  from 
heaven's  altar  had  touched  his  lips,  and  he  became  eloquent  in  praises  to 
God  and  in  his  deliverances  of  the  message  of  salvation  to  those  around  him. 
He  says,  "1  rejoiced  and  praised  God  with  my  w^hole  heart.  This  joy,  this 
love  1  w^ished  to  communicate  to  others. "  From  the  time  of  his  conversion 
he  began  to  preach  the  necessity  of  a  thorough  regeneration  of  the  heart. 
Many  listened  to  him  w^ith  sincere  pleasure,  and  the  doctrine  of  the  new^ 
birth  found  acceptance  with  them,  and  they  entered  into  the  same  experience 
with  him.  Others  regarded  his  preaching  w^ith  disfavor,  and  apprehended 
that  unfavorable  results  would  foUow^  from  what  appeared  to  them  as  an 
excessive  zeal,  bordering  on  fanaticism. 

While  his  preaching  w^as  new  to  his  Mennonite  brethren,  he  for  a  time 
was  not  seriously  opposed  by  them,  as  he  w^as  in  due  time  advanced  to  the 
rank  of  a  preacher  in  full  standing.  He  continued  to  preach  w^ith  much 
favor  in  Pennsylvania,  Maryland  and  Virginia,  among  his  ow^n  church  people 
and  w^herever  there  was  an  open  door  for  him,  and  with  good  results.  Pun- 
gent convictions  w^ere  produced  under  his  Gospel  message,  which  were 
foUow^ed  by  happy  conversions.  These  were  seasons  of  great  joy  to  him  and 
to  many  others,  and  as  time  passed  by  he  became  more  and  more  confirmed 
in  the  truth  and  correctness  of  his  own  experience.  "He  became  satisfied 
that  men  everyw^here  must  repent,  and  that  this  repentance  must  be  accom- 
panied by  godly  sorrow,  deeply  felt;  and  that  there  can  be  no  rest,  no  peace, 
no  hope,  and  no  faith  without  it. '  He  preached  Christ  and  his  saving  grace 
"in  demonstration  of  the  Spirit  and  of  pow^er,  "  and  many  lost  persons  w^ere 
brought  to  a  know^ledge  of  the  truth.  He  was  aggressive  and  spiritual  in  his 
w^ork,  and  it  v/as  to  be  expected  that  his  zeal  w^ould  in  time  aw^aken  serious 
opposition.  His  brethren  did  not  seem  to  have  the  charity  to  tolerate  w^ithin 
their  ranks  a  man  w^ho  sav/  and  taught  the  essential  truths  of  Christianity  in  a 
manner  different  from  that  in  which  they  sa-w  and  taught  them.  Mr.  Boehm 
was  in  earnest ;  he  was  all  aglow  with  a  holy  enthusiasm.     He  was  not  afraid. 


UNITED    BRETHREN    CHURCH  95 

of  white  heat,  as  God  uses  it  to  burn  out  the  dross.  The  great  metaphysician, 
Jonathan  Edwards,  in  speaking  of  earnestness  in  saving  souls,  says,  "Now,  if 
such  things  are  enthusiasm,  and  the  fruits  of  a  distempered  brain,  let  my 
brain  be  evermore  possessed  of  that  happy  distemper !  If  this  be  distraction, 
I  pray  God  that  the  world  of  mankind  may  be  all  seized  with  this  benign, 
meek,  beneficent,  beatifical,  glorious  distraction."  A  preacher  who  can  see 
sinners  heedlessly  rushing  to  everlasting  destruction,  and  not  be  pained  and 
enthusiastically  aroused  over  the  sight,  must  indeed  be  dull  in  mind  and 
duller  in  heart. 

Such  an  aggressive  and  spiritual-minded  man  as  Mr.  Boehm  was  must 
be  very  annoying  to  a  body  of  church  members  who  are  resting  in  the  form 
of  godliness  and  have  lost  its  power.  Mr.  Boehm,  like  Mr.  Otterbein,  did 
not  desire  to  separate  himself  from  the  church  in  which  he  was  brought  up, 
and  like  him  was  not  moved  by  any  unholy  ambition  to  lead  in  a  schismatic 
movement.  But  Mr.  Boehm's  earnest  and  successful  labors  aroused  against 
him,  and  against  those  in  sympathetic  relations  with  him,  a  spirit  of  opposi- 
tion that  resulted  in  their  expulsion  from  the  church.  His  brethren  had  de- 
manded that  he  desist  from  his  course,  to  which  he  replied  that  "'He  could 
not,  but  if  it  could  be  shown  that  he  had  done  wrong,  he  would  recall."  He 
sought  to  satisfy  his  brethren,  for  he  was  not  a  troublesome  man,  and  wanted 
peace  and  quiet.  The  vote  for  his  expulsion  was  finally  taken,  after  a  long 
struggle  and  considerable  irritation.  Jesus  said  to  the  apostles,  "They  shall 
put  you  out  of  the  synagogues,"  and  precisely  this  happened  to  them,  as  well 
as  to  these  later  apostles  of  the  gospel  of  Jesus,  for  their  fidelity  in  proclaim- 
ing the  deeper  and  richer  significance  of  the  precious  word  of  life. 

A  communication,  sent  out  by  the  Mennonite  bishop,  ministers  and 
deacons  of  Lancaster  County  and  vicinity,  gives  the  reasons  for  the  expulsion 
of  Mr.  Boehm.  This  venerable  document  has  been  preserved  and  published 
in  a  volume  entitled,  "The  Mennonite  Church  and  Her  Accusers,"  by  Rev. 
John  F.  Funk,  Elkhart,  Indiana.  The  facts  in  the  case,  sifted  from  all  sources 
and  reduced  to  a  nutshell,  may  be  stated  to  be  about  as  follows :  "The  real 
reason  for  his  expulsion  was  the  part  he  took  in  promoting  revivals  in  differ- 
ent sections,  and  in  fellowshiping  with  those  who  belonged  to  other  churches. 
Had  the  membership  been  anxious  to  retain  in  their  number  a  man  as  pure, 
earnest  and  childlike  as  he  was,  a  little  difference  of  opinion  as  to  church 
order  would  not  have  produced  the  separation,  especially  on  the  part  of  a 
man  who  wras  as  prudent  and  discrete  as  w^as  Mr.  Boehm."  His  expulsion 
occurred  some  time  between  1  775  and  1  780.  The  exact  date  is  uncertain. 
He  took  his  exclusion  gracefully,  and  went  on  with  his  work  just  as  he  had 
done  before,  preaching  in  his  own  neighborhood  and  in  numerous  other 
places  which  he  had  previously  visited.  His  son  being  able  to  take  charge 
of  the  home  farm,  he  gave  himself  more  generally  to  travelling  and  preach- 
ing. His  moral  and  Christian  character  had  in  no  way  been  assailed,  nor 
was  he  conscious  of  having  done  any  wrong.  With  a  brave  heart  and  an 
earnest  faith  he  went  forth  everywhere  to  preach  Christ  and   him  crucified,  in 


96  LANDMARK     HISTORYOFTHE 

private  houses,  barns,  and  in  the  woods,  where  many  precious  souls  w^ere 
brought  into  fellowship  with  God.  He  w^ent  as  far  south  as  Virginia  to  help 
others  in  the  work,  and  was  in  turn  very  much  helped  and  encouraged  him- 
self by  w^hat  he  saw  and  heard  there.  Some  preachers  from  Virginia  carne 
at  intervals  into  Mr.  Boehm's  home  county  to  help  him  also.  It  w^as  more  or 
less  common  among  them  to  hold  "great  meetings"  {grosse  Versammlungen), 
lasting  about  tw^o  days,  in  some  large  barn  or  house,  where  preachers  of 
different  churches  w^ould  preach  to  large  assemblies  of  people  of  similar 
beliefs  and  experiences.  These  w^ere  seasons  of  great  aw^akenings  among  the 
people,  and  of  pentecostal  blessings,  resulting  often  in  the  salvation  of  many 
souls. 

Rev.  Samuel  Huber,  one  of  the  early  fathers  in  the  Church,  thus  describes 
one  of  these  "big  meetings"  :  "It  was  no  uncommon  thing  for  a  brother  farmer 
to  give  out  an  appointment  for  a  big  meeting  to  be  held  at  his  house,  and  it 
was  expected  as  a  matter  of  course  that  the  people  attending  it  should  have 
something  to  eat  w^hile  there.  For  this  reason  provision  for  the  people  and 
provender  for  the  horses  were  prepared  in  sufficient  quantities  to  meet  the 
w^ants  of  the  expected  assemblage.  It  w^as  not  considered  a  strange  thing 
among  United  Brethren  for  the  brother  at  w^hose  house  the  meeting  w^as  to 
be  held  to  slaughter  a  few^  hogs,  sheep  or  calves,  and  on  extra  occasions  a 
beef,  and  to  have  a  quantity  of  bread,  cakes  and  pies  baked,  w^ith  bushels  of 
potatoes  and  other  vegetables  ready  for  use.  These  big  meetings  w^ere  at- 
tended by  crow^ds  of  people.  Some  came  from  a  great  distance.  The  hosts 
at  whose  house  the  meetings  were  held  were  not  scared  w^hen  they  saw^ 
carriages,  wagons  and  vehicles  of  all  sizes,  then  in  use,  and  loaded  w^ith  saints 
and  sinners,  coming  to  the  meeting.  Some  came  to  see  and  to  be  seen  ; 
others  to  hear  preaching.  In  many  instances  from  one  to  tw^o  hundred  per- 
sons w^ere  entertained  and  fed  during  the  meeting,  together  with  their  horses. 
At  the  meeting  at  Daniel  Whistler's  upw^ard  of  four  hundred  persons  took 
dinner  at  his  house  on  the  Sabbath." 

The  hospitality  of  the  people  on  these  great  occasions  knew^  no  bounds, 
and  they  w^ere  not  made  the  poorer  by  it.  They  -were  "given  to  hospitality." 
It  w^as  by  means  of  these  great  gatherings,  and  the  spirit  of  brotherly  love  and 
Christian  fellow^ship  that  pervaded  them,  that  the  United  Brethren  shed  a 
salutary  influence  around  them  and  drew^  the  people  to  them  in  large 
numbers. 

One  of  these  great  meetings  w^as  held  on  the  farm  of  Isaac  Long,  w^ho 
lived  in  Landis  Valley,  in  a  Mennonite  neighborhood,  about  six  miles  north- 
east of  Lancaster,  and  about  two  and  one-half  miles  east  of  Neffsville.  The 
services  w^ere  held  in  a  barn  on  Whitsuntide  in  I  766,  1  767  or  I  768.  The 
year  cannot  now  be  fully  determined.  Dr.  A.  W.  Drury,  in  his  "Life  of 
Otterbein,"  after  considering  the  question  somew^hat  exhaustively,  places  the 
limit  of  time  as  not  earlier  than  I  766,  nor  later  than  I  768,  with  the  preference 
for  the  later  date. 


UNITED     BRETHREN     CHURCH 


97 


a 


98  LANDMARKHISTORYOFTHE 

This  meeting  marks  a  vital  point  in  the  history  of  the  United  Brethren 
Church.  Here  Mr.  Otterbein  and  Mr.  Boehm  first  met  each  other.  The 
beginnings  of  the  work  that  led  to  this  gathering  were  marked  by  tw^o  distinct 
and  independent  revival  movements,  w^hich  began  in  these  tw^o  individual 
hearts  and  lives,  only  about  four  years  apart  as  to  time,  and  about  six  miles 
apart  as  to  distance.  Mr.  Otterbein  entered  upon  his  larger  Christian  experi- 
ence in  the  year  I  754,  while  pastor  in  Lancaster.  Mr.  Boehm's  conversion 
occurred  in  I  758,  while  living  on  a  farm  six  miles  southeast  of  Lancaster. 
Although  they  lived  so  close  to  each  other  for  a  period  of  about  six  years,  w^e 
have  no  record  of  them  ever  having  met  each  other  or  of  having  but  very 
little  knowledge  of  each  other  until  they  met  at  this  great  meeting. 

From  this  time  on  their  spiritual  impulses  and  efforts  w^ere  to  be  merged 
into  one  great  and  mighty  evangelistic  movement,  of  w^hich  they  together 
were  to  be  the  leaders,  and  w^hich  was  destined  to  spread  far  and  w^ide  with 
increased  pow^er  and  momentum  with  the  passing  years  in  the  accomplish- 
ment of  great  victories  for  God  in  the  salvation  of  men.  There  w^ere  three 
of  the  Long  brothers,  Isaac,  John  and  Benjamin,  w^ho  w^ere  converts  from  the 
Mennonites,  under  Mr.  Boehm's  preaching.  They  w^ere  all  prosperous  far- 
mers, and  men  of  excellent  character.  At  the  meeting  held  at  Isaac  Long's, 
people  were  present  from  Lancaster,  York  and  Lebanon  counties,  belonging 
to  the  Lutheran,  German  Reformed,  Mennonite,  Amish,  and  possibly  other 
churches.  Mr.  Otterbein,  w^ho  w^as  at  this  time  pastor  at  York,  is  at  this 
meeting,  w^hether  by  invitation  of  Mr.  Boehm  or  of  his  own  choosing  w^e  do 
not  know.  The  large  barn  was  not  large  enough  to  contain  the  people.  An 
overflow  meeting  -was  held  outside  in  an  orchard,  and  a  minister  from  Virginia 
preached  to  them.  Mr.  Boehm  preached  inside  the  barn,  w^hile  Mr.  Otterbein 
sat  near  him  a  deeply  interested  listener.  As  he  arises  to  speak,  w^e  see  a 
man  of  moderate  size,  w^ith  long,  flow^ing  beard  and  dressed  in  the  plain, 
simple,  unostentatious  garb  peculiar  to  the  Mennonite  people.  While  Mr. 
Otterbein,  on  the  other  hand,  was  tall,  of  noble  and  commanding  presence, 
dressed  more  in  keeping  w^ith  the  costumes  of  the  day,  and  bearing  the  marks 
of  culture  and  refinement.  The  contrast  between  them  as  to  their  outward 
appearance  w^as  very  marked,  so  as  to  be  observed  by  all.  They  w^ere  both 
about  fifty  years  of  age,  in  the  prime  of  life,  and  w^onderfuUy  in  earnest  in 
their  efforts  to  w^in  men  to  Christ.  Dr.  D.  Berger  says,  in  describing  the  ser- 
vices, that  "As  Mr.  Boehm  proceeded  with  his  discourse,  his  heart  glowing 
with  spiritual  fervor,  Mr.  Otterbein's  soul  kindled  with  responsive  feeling. 
The  great  burning  truths  which  Mr.  Boehm  proclaimed  w^ere  the  same  which 
he  had  himself  been  accustomed  to  declare,  and  he  felt  that  there  indeed 
stood  before  him  a  fellow  apostle  of  the  same  Gospel  which  was  mighty  to 
save.  When  Mr.  Boehm  ceased,  and  before  he  had  time  to  sit  down,  Mr. 
Otterbein  arose,  and  with  a  heart  filled  to  overflowing,  cast  his  arms  about 
Mr.  Boehm  in  warm  embrace  and  exclaimed,  'IVir  sind  Brueder,'  'We  are 
brethren !' "  In  view^  of  the  ecclesiastical  relations  of  these  men,  as  well  as 
their  previous  training  and  beliefs,  this  incident  was  a  most  remarkable   one, 


UNITED    BRETHREN    CHURCH 


99 


truly  dramatic  and  impressive.  All  differences  of  birth,  education,  garb, 
form,  church  order  and  denominational  peculiarities  of  all  kinds  disappeared 
as  by  magic,  as  the  preachers  and  the  congregation  came  under  the  higher 
dominion  of  the  one  divine  Spirit.  Men  and  women  who  had  never  heard 
of  the  spiritual  life  and  assurance  of  the  love  of  God  cried  out,  "Wir  sind 
verlohren"  (we  are  lost),  and  were  pointed  to  the  Lamb  of  God,  that  taketh 
aw^ay  the  sin  of  the  world.  Scores  of  souls  w^ere  saved  that  day,  and  hundreds 
w^ept  for  joy  and  praised  God  aloud.  The  scene  w^ould  form  a  picture  worthy 
of  the  most  skillful  artist. 

The  Isaac  Long  farm  contains  1  28  acres,  and  is  now^  ow^ned  and  occupied 
by  Jacob  R.  Landis,  whose  grandmother  w^as  a  daughter  of  Isaac  Long's.  The 
Longs,  Lanes,  Landis,  Reists  and  Hostet- 
ters  are  among  the  numerous  descendants 
of  the  Long  family,  w^ho  live  in  the  com- 
munity, and  nearly  all  of  them  belong  to 
the  Mennonites.  The  barn  in  w^hich  the 
services  were  held  is  1  1  0  x  32  feet  in  size, 
and  is  still  in  good  condition.  On  the  lintel 
of  one  of  the  stable  doors  the  follow^ing 
characters  are  rudely  carved  :  "I.  L.,  1  754, ' 
indicating  the  initials  of  Isaac  Long's  name 
and  the  year  in  w^hich  the  barn  w^as  built. 

In  this  barn  the  Church  of  the  United 
Brethren  in  Christ  w^as  spiritually  born  from 
above,  and  Whitsuntide,  in  the  providence 
of  God,  happened  to  be  a  very  appropri- 
ate birthday,  the  anniversary  of  the  out- 
pouring of  the  Holy  Spirit  upon  Christ's 
infant  Church.  At  this  feast  of  spiritual 
fellow^ship  w^ith  Christ  it  w^as  natural  to  ex- 
pect that  something  be  done  in  the  w^ay  of 
forming  a  union  or  compact  for  the  purpose 
of  giving  their  work  proper  form  and  permanent  character.  Such  a  compact 
w^as  made,  according  to  the  early  traditions,  w^ith  some  simple  but  definite 
conditions  as  its  basis.  One  of  these  conditions  w^as  some  liberty  with  refer- 
ence to  the  details  of  baptism.  The  historic  mode  of  baptism  among  the 
Mennonites  was  by  pouring,  and  only  adults  were  recognized  as  proper  sub- 
jects. The  Reformed  Church  baptised  by  sprinkling,  and  insisted  on  infant 
baptism.  Others  among  them  believed  in  immersion.  The  leaders  in  a 
general  w^ay  agreed  upon  a  basis  of  doctrinal  harmony  and  mutual  co-opera- 
tion, and  planned  for  a  more  aggressive  campaign  for  the  salvation  of  men. 
Thus  the  godly  personality  of  these  leaders  was  multiplied  many  times,  and 
the  foundations  of  our  denominational  life  were  unconsciously  laid,  the 
spiritual  lines  converging  on  Calvary,  and  the  ecclesiastical  influences  in  the 


Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jacob  R.  Landis 


100 


LANDMARK    HISTORY 


direction  of  Peter  Kemp's  home,  where  the  Church  was  brought  to  an  actual 
organization  in  the  year  1800. 

We  must  not  close  this  chapter  without  noticing  an  event  that  did  not 
occur  a  hundred  or  more  years  ago,  but  only  in  the  recent  past.  On  the  first 
of  July,  1909,  nearly  all  the  ministers  of  our  Church,  and  their  wives,  located 
in  Lancaster  County,  enjoyed  an  outing  at  Isaac  Long's  barn.  The  party  was 
composed  of  Rev.  and  Mrs.  S.  S.  Daugherty,  Rev.  and  Mrs.  A.  G.  Nye,  Rev. 
and  Mrs.  C.  E.  Boughter,  Rev.  and  Mrs.  T.  Garland,  Rev.  and  Mrs.  H.  S. 
Keiffer,  Rev.  and  Mrs.  I.  M.  Hershey,  Rev.  and  Mrs.  I.  H.  Albright,  Rev.  and 
Mrs.  R.  R.  Butterwick,  Rev.  H.  F.  Rhoad,  Rev.  S.  C.  Enck,  Rev.  J.  B.  Click. 
Miss  Esther  Nye,  Mrs.  Clara  Weidman,  and  the  Landis  family,  whose  guests 
we  w^ere.  The  party  w^ent  from  various  points  to  Neffsville,  from  w^here  they 
w^ere  conveyed  to  the  place  on  a  large  hay  wagon  by  Jacob  R.  Landis,  who 
lives  on  the  farm.  After  view^ing  the  buildings  w^ith  a  great  deal  of  interest, 
they  were  all  invited  to  sit  dow^n  to  a  bounteous  dinner  prepared  by  the 
Landis  family.  After  dinner  brief  religious  services  w^ere  held  on  the  historic 
barn  floor,  in  charge  of  Rev.  S.  C.  Enck.  The  v/riter  delivered  an  historical 
address,  vv^ho  v/as  followed  by  Rev.  R.  R.  Butterwick,  who  spoke  on  "Our 
Church  Fathers."  This  historic  place  has  been  visited  quite  frequently  by 
our  people  from  near  and  far,  and  it  will  ever  continue  to  be  a  place  of  more 
than  ordinary  interest  to  all  v/ho  love  to  cherish  the  humble  beginnings  of 
our  church  life. 


CHAPTER     II 

LANCASTER   COUNTY   AND   ITS   FIRST   WHITE  SETTLERS  —  LANCASTER   CITY- 
OTTERBEIN'S    PASTORATE   IN    LANCASTER- BOEHM'S   APPOINTMENTS— LAY 
PREACHERS  —  CHRISTIAN     NEWCOMER  —  FIRST    CONFERENCES  —  FIRST 
CHURCHES— FIRST  CLASSES— LANCASTER  COUNTY  CHURCHES:  FLORIN, 
RANCK'S,  MOUNTVILLE.  SOUDERSBURG-ST.  JOHN'S.  PANNABECK- 
ER'S-PARADISE.  INTERCOURSE.  ELIZABETHTOWN.  LANCASTER- 
COVENANT,    NEW    HOLLAND,   COLUMBIA,    SHISSLER'S— 
NEFFSVILLE,  MT.  JOY,  EPHRATA.  AND  STEHMAN'S 


E  HAVE  seen  in  the  preceding  pages  how  the  Lord  prepared' 
two  men  with  special  endowments  of  grace  for  a  broader 
and  deeper  work  than  that  to  w^hich  their  ordinary  calling 
led  them.  Through  the  strong  impulse  of  the  divine  Spirit, 
reinforced  by  a  great  Pentecostal  baptism  of  power  at 
Isaac  Long's,  they  went  forth  to  preach  more  strenuously 
than  ever  the  doctrine  of  the  new  birth  and  a  deeper  spiritual  experience. 
Their  evangelistic  labors  were  owned  and  blessed  w^ith  much  gracious  fruit 
w^herever  they  went.  We  are  now  to  trace  more  definitely  the  course  of  these 
two  leaders,  and  that  of  their  co-laborers,  as  w^ell  as  of  those  who  succeeded 
them  in  their  work,  especially  in  Lancaster  County. 

Lancaster  County  is  a  large  county,  and  judging  from  an  agricultural 
standpoint  it  is  the  richest  county  in  the  United  States.  Its  farmers  have 
learned  to  tickle  its  fertile  soil  with  plough,  harrow  and  hoe,  so  as  to  enable 
it  to  bring  forth  abundant  harvests  of  all  the  products  native  to  this  climate. 
The  county  was  organized  out  of  Chester  County  in  1  729,  and  at  the  conclu- 
sion of  a  treaty  with  the  Indians  in  I  736  it  included  all  of  the  counties  of 
York,  Adams,  Cumberland,  Dauphin,  and  parts  of  Lebanon,  Berks  and  North- 
umberland. At  various  times  other  counties  w^ere  formed  out  of  Lancaster, 
and  in  1 8 1  3  it  w^as  reduced  to  its  present  limits.  The  name  of  the  county 
was  suggested  by  John  Wright,  in  honor  of  his  native  county,  Lancashire, 
England.  The  earliest  white  settlements  were  made  in  1  709  by  people  called 
Mennonites,  -who  had  immigrated  from  Switzerland  and  the  Palatinate.  Others 
of  the  same  faith  soon  followed  in  large  numbers,  being  driven  to  forsake 
their  homes  by  the  spirit  of  religious  intolerance  and  persecution.  They  all 
seemed  to  have  "an  instinct  for  fine  land,"  as  they  invariably  established 
their  new  homes  on  the  most  fertile  plains  and  along  the  broad,  rich  valleys 

101 


ro2 


LANDMARK    HISTORY    OF    THE 


of  the  Conestoga,  Pequea,  Millcreek,  and  other  streams  within  the  county. 
These  were  soon  followed  by  the  French  Huguenots,  the  Scotch-Irish,  who 
were  all  Presbyterians,  the  English  Quakers,  the  Amish,  the  Lutherans,  the 
German  Reformed  and  the  Methodists. 

Four  of  the  early  annual  conferences  of  the  Church  were  held  within 
this  county,  at  Christian  Herr's  in  1807,  1809  and  1813,  at  Christian  Hershey's 
in  1818,  and  five  of  the  bishops  of  the  Church  were  born  here,  as  follows : 
Martin  Boehm,  Christian  Newcomer,  Henry  Kumler,  Sr.,  Henry  Kumler,  Jr., 
and  Jacob  Erb. 

A  tract  of  land  known  as  "Gibson's  Pasture,"  upon  which  the  city  of 
Lancaster  now  stands,  was  chosen  for  a  county  seat.  The  town  was  laid  out 
by  James  Hamilton,  occupying  a  space  of  two  miles  square.  He  granted 
certain  lots  for  church  purposes.  Among  them  two  lots  on  Orange  Street 
were  granted  to  the  German  Reformed  Church,  lot  number  76  in  1  74  1 ,  and 
lot  number  75  in  I  746.  A  log  church  was  built  on  the  rear  of  one  of  these 
lots  in  1  736,  under  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  John  J.  Hock,  and  dedicated  to  God 
June  20,  1  736,  on  holy  Whitsuntide.  This  was  the  first  house  of  worship 
that  was  dedicated  to  God  in 
the  town.  Up  to  the  year 
1752  the  congregation  had 
been  served  by  several  pastors, 
but  in  August  of  this  year  Rev. 
William  Otterbein  became  the 
pastor,  and  served  it  for  a  pe- 
riod of  six  years.  At  this  time 
the  tow^n  contained  five  hun- 
dred houses  and  two  thousand 
inhabitants.  Dr.  Dubbs  w^rites 
that  in  1  752  the  Lancaster  Re- 
formed Church,  next  to  Phila- 
delphia, was  the  most  impor- 
tant church  in  the  province 
of  Pennsylvania.  The  records 
say  that  Mr.  Otterbein  labored 
w^ith  "regular  success,"  though 
amid  various  discouragements. 
During  the  second  year  of  his  pastorate  the  small  old  w^ooden  church  was 
superseded  by  a  massive  stone  church,  w^hich  continued  to  serve  the  congre- 
gation for  a  century,  lacking  one  year,  and  which  was  then  "too  good  to  be 
torn  down." 

During  Mr.  Otterbein's  pastorate  here  he  zealously  rebuked  sin,  and 
urged  his  people  to  seek  a  deeper  spirituality,  and  to  lead  purer  and  more 
exemplary  lives.  And,  as  it  might  be  expected,  the  w^orldly  element  in  the 
church  chafed  under  his  trenchant  rebukes,  and  stirred  up  some  opposition 
to  his  spiritual  and  earnest  preaching.     Tow^ard  the  close  of  the  sixth  year  of 


Lancaster  Reformed  Church  that  Otterbein  Built 


UNITED    BRETHREN    CHURCH  103 

his  ministry,  in  1  758,  he  resigned  his  charge,  thus  ending  his  pastoral  career 
within  the  county.  After  this  he  served  as  pastor  at  Tulpehocken,  Pa.,  two 
years;  at  Frederick,  Md.,  five  years;  York,  Pa.,  nine  years;  and  in  1774  he 
w^ent  to  Baltimore,  Md.,  to  serve  as  pastor  of  the  "Evangelical  Reformed 
Church,"  wfhich  he  served  until  his  death,  w^hich  occurred  November  I  7, 
1813,  and  which  has  been  served  continuously  by  United  Brethren  ministers 
ever  since  Mr.  Otterbein's  death. 

After  Mr.  Otterbein's  removal  to  Baltimore,  the  direct  oversight  of  that 
part  of  the  revival  movement  belonging  to  the  State  of  Pennsylvania  w^as 
mostly  left  to  Mr.  Boehm.  Having  no  settled  pastorate,  his  itinerant  labors 
-were  more  extensive  than  those  of  Mr.  Otterbein.  After  the  Isaac  Long 
meeting  he  early  appears  as  preaching  regularly  at  Pequea  (to  the  "Pequea 
brethren"  of  his  own  community),  at  Landis  Valley  (to  the  "Conestoga  breth- 
ren" in  the  Long  neighborhood),  and  at  Donegal  (to  the  "River  brethren"  on 
the  Susquehanna).  Shortly  after  his  expulsion,  and  before  1  780,  he  had  also 
established  regular  preaching  places  at  Rohrer's  on  Mill  Creek,  at  Stoner's, 
and  at  other  places.  All  these  preaching  places  are  located  within  the 
county,  and  all  the  congregations  w^ere  principally  made  up  of  Mennonites, 
many  of  whom  were  brought  into  true  fellowship  with  Christ.  When  con- 
verts w^ere  found  w^ho  w^ere  truly  pious,  and  had  the  gift  of  speech  and  "felt 
moved  to  exhort  or  preach,  they  were  encouraged  to  do  so  ;  and  after  they 
had  been  w^ell  tried  and  approved,  a  license  to  preach,  signed  by  Mr.  Otter- 
bein and  Mr.  Boehm,  was  usually  granted  them.  By  this  means  the  infant 
societies  were  strengthened,  the  numerous  calls  for  evangelical  preaching 
ansv/ered,  and  the  Word  of  the  Lord  published  abroad." 

Among  the  most  successful  of  these  lay  preachers  w^as  Christian  New^- 
comer,  who  was  destined  to  take  a  very  prominent  part  in  the  early  history 
of  our  Church,  in  Lancaster  County  as  vs^ell  as  elsewhere.  He  wras  born 
Januar3^  21,1  749,  on  a  farm  located  tw^o  miles  south  of  Bareville  and  nine 
miles  east  of  Lancaster,  which  is  now  owned  by  John  Lapp.  Here  he  grew^ 
up  to  manhood.  His  father,  vv^hose  name  w^as  Wolfgang  New^comer,  as  w^ell 
as  his  grandfather,  came  from  Sv/itzerland,  landing  in  Philadelphia.  He  and 
his  parents  were  members  of  the  Mennonite  Church.  On  March  31,  1770, 
he  married  Miss  Elizabeth  Bear,  a  relative  to  Aaron  H.  Bear,  of  New^  Holland, 
w^ho  died  within  a  year  after  their  marriage.  Tw^o  years  after  her  death  he 
married  Miss  Elizabeth  Weller.  He  professed  conversion  about  the  year 
1  767,  but  lost  his  heavenly  peace  largely  because  of  the  lack  of  spiritual 
advisors.  In  his  distress  he  consulted  w^ith  an  elder  or  preacher  in  the  Men- 
nonite Church,  who  advised  him  "to  join  the  Society  and  take  the  sacrament.' 
He  took  his  friendly  advice,  but  all  this  did  not  restore  to  him  his  lost  treas- 
ure. In  the  spring  of  1  775  he  moved  to  Frederick  County,  Maryland,  vv^here 
he  became  acquainted  with  William  Otterbein  and  G.  A.  Geeting,  and  heard 
them  preach.  They  insisted  on  genuine  repentance  and  conversion,  and  a 
new^  birth  by  the  povs^er  of  the  Holy  Spirit.  He  says :  "They  formed  their 
converts  into  societies  and  w^ere  called  Otterbein's  people,  and  by  some  they 


104 


LANDMARK     HISTORY    OF    THE 


UNITED     BRETHREN    CHURCH  105 

were  called  in  derision  Dutch  Methodists. "  He  united  with  one  of  these  so- 
cieties and  became  one  of  the  most  efficient  workers  in  the  Church.  He 
began  to  preach  in  1777,  was  a  member  of  the  first  conference,  which  met  in 
Baltimore,  Md.,  in  1  789.  He  w^as  elected  a  bishop  in  1813,  and  served  the 
Church  in  that  capacity  until  his  death,  which  occurred  on  March  12,  1830. 
He  served  the  Church  as  a  minister  for  a  period  of  fifty-three  years,  seventeen 
of  which  he  served  as  a  bishop.  For  over  half  a  century  he  was  in  his  saddle 
almost  daily,  going  from  house  to  house,  from  state  to  state,  carrying  the  glad 
tidings  of  salvation.  Spayth  says :  "He  w^as  indeed  a  chosen  vessel  of  the 
Lord,  as  his  abundant  labors  most  amply  prove.  Though  in  some  respects 
he  w^as  less  than  Otterbein,  Boehm  or  Geeting,  nevertheless,  take  him  as  he 
w^as,  w^e  are  justified  in  saying  of  him,  that  the  grace  of  God  was  not  bestowed 
on  him  in  vain,  for  he  labored  more  abundantly,  preached  more  frequently  and 
visited  more  extensively.  He  was  just  the  man  by  nature  and  by  grace  for 
his  place.  Without  him  the  cluster  would  have  been  incomplete."  He  often 
preached  in  this  county,  in  the  vicinity  of  his  old  home,  at  Grosh's,  Bear's, 
Boehm's,  Hoover's,  Miller's,  Zeltenreich's  Church,  Heller's  Church,  and  at 
other  places.  He  departed  this  life  at  the  age  of  eighty-one  years,  and  his 
remains  lie  buried  at  Beaver  Creek,  Md.,  with  no  stone  to  mark  his  last  rest- 
ing place. 

In  the  progressive  development  of  the  work  other  lay  preachers  w^ere 
licensed  from  time  to  time.  Some  of  these  men  had  been  previously  serving 
as  leaders  of  classes,  in  whose  hearts  God  had  awakened  a  deep  interest  in 
the  salvation  of  souls.  Generally  they  w^ere  of  limited  education,  but  the 
fires  of  a  warm  spiritual  life  burned  within  them,  and  in  their  simple  and 
earnest  w^ay  they  preached  the  Gospel  of  saving  grace  w^ith  good  results. 
While  some  of  these  men  w^ere  engaged  in  secular  callings,  and  preached  on 
Sabbath  and  on  other  days  as  often  as  they  could,  others  w^ere  led  to  give 
themselves  entirely  to  the  w^ork  of  the  ministry.  At  the  great  meetings  the 
ministers  w^ere  accustomed  to  outline  the  w^ork  to  be  done  by  them,  and  to 
receive  instructions  from  Mr.  Otterbein  and  Mr.  Boehm.  But  the  time  had 
come  w^hen  it  seemed  desirable  that  a  formal  conference  should  be  held,  for 
counsel  and  for  a  more  definite  and  systematic  method  of  procedure  in  the 
wrork.  Such  a  conference  convened  in  Mr.  Otterbein's  parsonage  in  Balti- 
more, Md.,  1  789.  A  second  conference  w^as  held  in  John  Spangler's  home, 
in  York  County,  Pa.,  in  1  79  1 .  Tradition  reports  the  names  of  the  ministers 
w^ho  attended  these  conferences,  but  no  w^ritten  minutes  of  the  proceedings 
have  been  handed  down.  The  first  regular  annual  conference  was  held 
September  25,  26,  1800,  at  the  home  of  Peter  Kemp,  located  a  little  over  two 
miles  west  of  Frederick  City,  Md.  Here  the  Church  was  regularly  organized, 
received  its  official  name,  and  here  William  Otterbein  and  Martin  Boehm 
were  formally  elected  as  superintendents  or  bishops.  The  minutes  of  this 
conference,  and  of  all  succeeding  annual  conferences,  have  been  carefully 
preserved. 


106  LANDMARK    HISTORY    OF    THE 

Up  to  the  year  1 800  there  were  only  three  churches  built  in  the  entire 
connection,  including  the  second  one  named,  as  follows :  Geeting's  meeting 
house,  near  Keedysville,  Md.,  built  in  1  780  ;  Otterbein  church,  Baltimore,  Md., 
built  in  1  785  ;  and  Neidig's  meeting-house,  Oberlin,  Pa.,  built  in  1  793.  These 
churches  w^ere  all  located  in  widely-separated  communities,  and  each  became 
a  strong  centre  of  religious  influence  and  pow^er.  There  w^as  a  church  built 
in  I  79 1  on  Martin  Boehm's  old  farm,  on  land  which  he  had  deeded  to  his 
son,  Jacob  Boehm.  But  this  w^as  a  Methodist  church,  as  Martin  Boehm's  w^ife 
and  some  of  his  children  united  w^ith  that  body.  The  United  Brethren  and 
the  Methodists  had  for  some  time  the  freest  use  of  this  house  of  worship.  It 
is  still  standing,  but  it  is  no  longer  used  for  church  services.  Up  to  the  year 
1830,  as  far  as  our  investigations  could  determine,  there  were  only  tw^elve 
other  United  Brethren  churches  built  in  the  entire  denomination,  as  follow^s : 
Hagerstown,  Md.,  1805;  Germantown,  O.,  1806;  Roth's,  near  Oakville,  Pa.> 
1816;  Corydon,  Ind.,  1818;  Light's,  Lebanon,  Pa.,  1820;  Chambersburg,  Pa., 
1822;  Littlestown,  Pa.,  1823;  Shirk's,  near  Grantville,  Pa.,  1825;  Shopp's, 
near  Shiremanstown,  Pa.,  1827;  Herr's,  Annville,  Pa.,  1828;  Greencastle,  Pa., 
1  828  ;   and   Dreisbach  church,  near  Circleville,  O.,  1  829. 

During  these  years  the  brethren  were  not  idle.  They  preached  and  la- 
bored w^ith  great  success  in  w^inning  many  souls  to  Christ,  but  other  churches 
chiefly  v/ere  benefited  by  their  labors.  They  w^ere  slow^  in  the  organization 
of  classes  and  in  the  building  of  churches.  Our  fathers,  like  Abraham  the 
patriarch,  often  built  altars  to  the  Lord  before  they  built  houses  for  themselves 
or  meeting-houses  in  w^hich  to  place  their  altars. 

The  first  classes  or  congregations  w^ere  regularly  organized  by  Rev.  Chris- 
tian New^comer,  w^ho  seemed  to  be  the  first  preacher  to  see  the  necessity  of 
organization,  discipline  and  order.  He  says,  "On  Sunday,  April  5,  1812,  I 
preached  in  the  afternoon  at  Valentine  Doub's,  where  I  organized  a  class  of 
ten  members.  On  Sunday,  May  16,  1813,  I  had  a  quarterly  conference  at 
Peter  Brown's,  where  I  formed  a  class  of  twenty-two  members.  On  July  24,  I 
preached  at  Widow  Winter's,  and  formed  a  class  of  fifteen  members. "  In 
August,  1818,  he  did  something  toward  organizing  classes  at  Antietam,  Md. 
About  this  time  he  also  formed  a  class  at  Greencastle,  Pa.  It  is  said  that  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  w^as  about  to  get  some  of  his  converts  here,  and 
he  took  some  loose  leaves  that  he  had  torn  out  of  a  hymn-book,  joined  them 
together,  and  enrolled  the  names  of  his  members,  and  that  this  was  the  first 
class-book  in  the  church.  He  w^as  in  advance  of  all  his  brethren  in  the  w^ork 
of  organizing  congregations,  and  they  did  not  seem  to  be  very  well  pleased 
with  him,  as  "he  was  arraigned  by  the  Muskingham  Conference  in  1819  for 
so  doing. "  Nothing  serious  resulted  from  this  arraignment  against  Mr. 
Newcomer,  and  he  v/ent  on  unmolested  in  his  work.  Other  brethren  gradu- 
ally fell  into  line  with  him,  and  in  addition  to  the  work  of  saving  souls,  that  of 
organizing  their  converts  into  congregations  w^as  at  last  begun. 

Mr.  New^comer  preached  at  Christian  Herr's  on  Tuesday,  September  I  7, 
1816,  from   2    Corinthians   5:21,  and  "formed    a   class   of   eight   members. " 


UNITED    BRETHREN    CHURCH  107 

This  is  the  first  class  that  was  organized  in  Lancaster  County  and  east  of  the 
Susquehanna  river  of  which  we  have  any  record.  We  now  come  to  the 
time  when  the  brethren  commenced  to  build  churches  within  the  county. 
Meeting-houses  and  churches  are  a  necessity  in  the  development  of  a  Chris- 
tian civilization.  They  assure  growth  and  permanency  in  the  work  of  the 
church.  The  heathen  religionist  recognizes  the  importance  of  having  suitable 
places  of  worship.  The  Buddhist  has  his  temple,  the  Shintoist  his  shrine,  the 
Confucianist  his  pagoda,  the  Pagan  his  idol-house,  the  Jew  has  had  his  taber- 
nacle, his  temple  and  his  synagogue,  and  still  has  his  synagogue,  and  the 
Christian  must  have  his  church.  Many  of  us  have  been  so  accustomed  to 
w^orship  in  our  commodious  and  costly  edifices  that  w^e  can  hardly  appreciate 
the  difficulties  and  inconveniences  that  confront  those  congregations  who,  by 
force  of  circumstances,  are  compelled  to  worship  in  any  old  place.  In  those 
early  days  the  fathers  worshiped  in  private  houses,  barns,  school-houses,  shops 
and  groves.  They  did  the  best  they  could  under  the  circumstances,  until  the 
momentum  of  their  evangelistic  labors  had  gained  such  headw^ay  as  to  lay 
upon  them  the  necessity  of  building  churches. 

FLORIN    CHURCH 

There  are  thirty-four  United  Brethren  churches  in  Lancaster  County,  and 
the  first  of  these  w^as  erected  in  the  village  of  Springville,  now^  called  Florin. 
Florin  is  a  pretty  cluster  of  dw^ellings  one  mile  w^est  of  Mount  Joy,  on  the  line 
of  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad. 

There  were  several  families  who  belonged  to  the  church  living  in  Florin 
as  early  as  1834.  In  1839  the  first  class  w^as  organized  here  with  the  follow^- 
ing  as  its  charter  members  :  John  Geyer,  Elizabeth  Geyer,  George  Geyer,  Mary 
Geyer,  Christian  Hershey,  Elizabeth  Hershey,  Charles  Zeller,  Mattie  Zeller, 
and  Philip  Greiner  and  his  wife.  These  members  w^orshiped  for  about  a 
year  at  the  home  of  George  Geyer,  in  a  farmhouse  located  one  mile  northeast 
of  Florin,  now^  ow^ned  by  Christian  Garber.  In  1 840-4 1  the  services  were 
held  in  the  village  at  John  Geyer's  home,  now  ow^ned  by  his  son,  George  A. 
Geyer.  The  attendance  at  these  services  increased  so  much  during  the  win- 
ter of  I  84 1  -42  that  the  pastor,  Rev.  Christian  Peffley,  was  urged  by  his  pre- 
siding elder  to  go  to  the  school-house,  which  is  nov/  the  tow^n  hall,  and  hold 
a  protracted  meeting.  The  pastor  then  had  charge  of  Lancaster  Circuit, 
w^hich  had  at  least  fifteen  appointments.  He  started  a  series  of  meetings  in 
the  school-house  w^hich  continued  three  months,  and  which  resulted  in  sixty- 
two  conversions.  Barbara  Bear,  Kate  Winters,  Barbara  Sherrick,  Stephen 
Grissinger,  Fianna  Grissinger,  and  others  w^ho  became  useful  w^orkers  in  the 
church  \^ere  among  the  converts. 

In  1  842  the  church  was  built,  under  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  Christian  Peff- 
ley, on  ground  that  was  donated  for  this  purpose  by  Philip  Greiner  and  Jacob 
Geyer.  James  Menaugh,  Sr.,  contractor,  erected  the  brick  church,  about  30  x 
40   feet  in   size,  that   being   about   the   general   size    and  shape  of  nearly  all 


108 


LANDMARK     HISTORY    OF    THE 


the  churches  that  were  buih  in  those  early  days.  In  1843  Samuel  Seiders 
served  this  church  as  the  pastor ;  Samuel  Seiders  and  Henry  Staub,  1 844 ; 
Henry  Staub  and  Simon  Noll,  1 845  ;  David  Gingerich  and  George  Gilbert, 
1846. 

The  annual  conference  of  1 846  was  held  in  this  church  commencing 
February  20,  Bishop  J.  J.  Glossbrenner,  D.D.,  presiding.  This  w^as  the  first 
conference  that  the  bishop  held  in  Pennsylvania,  and  the  second  of  his  life, 
Virginia  Conference  being  the  first.  He  had  been  elected  to  the  bishopric 
just  a  short  time  before  this.     He   felt   greatly  embarrassed   in  coming  to  this 

conference  because  its  membership 
vv^as  composed  of  so  many  German 
men,  as  he  could  not  speak  nor 
understand  the  German  language. 
But  Rev.  Casper  Light,  a  German 
preacher,  w^rote  to  him,  saying : 
"Come  on,  young  English  bishop  ; 
we  Germans  will  stand  by  you  and 
hold  up  your  hands."  "This,"  said 
the  bishop,  "encouraged  me  great- 
ly." The  bishop  came  and  made 
many  life-long  friends,  who  stood 
by  him  faithfully  until  God  called 
him  home  on  the  morning  of  Jan- 
uary 7,  1887.  At  this  conference 
G.  W.  Showman  was  licensed  to  preach,  and  Frederick  Grimm,  J.  C.  Smith 
and  William  Wagner  were  ordained  as  elders.  A  noted  event  at  this  confer- 
ence w^as  the  resolutions  that  -were  passed  making  tw^o  conferences  out  of  the 
original  Pennsylvania  Conference : 


Florin  Church 


"Res.  25 — That  a  committee  be  appointed   to  fix  the  boundaries  of  the  West  Pennsylvania 
Conference. 

"Res.  26 — That  a    committee  be   appointed   to   fix  the  boundaries  of  the  East  Pennsylvania 
Conference. 

"Res.  34 — That  a  vote  be  called  and  that  each  member  answer  'East'  or  'West'  to  his  name, 
thereby  signifying  of  which  conference  he  wishes  to  be  a  member." 

The  result  was  that  thirty-eight  answered  "East,"  and  forty-five  answ^ered 
"West"  to  their  names,  and  the  Susquehanna  river  w^as  made  the  boundary 
line  between  the  tw^o  conferences. 

George  Gilbert  was  the  pastor  of  the  church  in  1 848-49.  He  had  thir- 
teen appointments,  212  members,  and  received  $264.69  salary.  David  Gin- 
gerich and  D.  O.  Farrell  served  it  in  1850-51;  G.  A.  Mark,  1852;  John 
Stamm,  1853-54;  G.  A.  Mark  and  P.  J.  Riland,  1855  ;  C.  Geist  and  P.  J.  Ri- 
land,  1856;  Jacob  Brewer,  1857;  D.  Strickler  and  C.  Kauffman,  1858;  Joseph 
Young  and  C.  Kauffman,  1859;  Joseph  Young  and  Jacob  Doerkson,  1860-61. 


UNITED    BRETHREN    CHURCH  109 

In  1 860  the  annual  session  of  the  East  Pennsylvania  Conference  was 
held  in  this  church.  Here  a  resolution  was  passed  by  which  the  co-operation 
of  the  conference  w^ith  Otterbein  University,  located  at  Westerville.  O.,  was 
withdraw^n,  w^ith  a  view^  of  establishing  a  school  in  Pennsylvania.  Accor- 
dingly, D.  Strickler,  H.  Shropp  and  L.  W.  Craumer  were  appointed  to  confer 
with  the  Pennsylvania  Conference,  w^ith  the  founding  of  such  a  school  in 
view.  In  1867  this  movement  resulted  in  the  founding  of  Lebanon  Valley 
College,  located  at  Annville,  Pa. 

Revs.  J.  B.  Daugherty,  W.  Dietrich,  H.  W.  Landis,  E.  Light,  W.  B.  Evers 
and  L.  Peters  served  the  church  at  Florin  from  1862  to  1871.  In  1870  the 
East  Pennsylvania  Conference  w^as  formed  into  twro  conferences,  one  knovv^n 
by  the  old  name,  and  the  other  was  called  the  East  German  Conference.  The 
dividing  line  between  them  was  the  Philadelphia  and  Reading  Railroad,  ex- 
tending from  Harrisburg  to  Reading.  This  action  upon  the  part  of  the  Gen- 
eral Conference  was  the  beginning  of  a  lot  of  trouble  for  the  Florin  church. 
The  trouble  hinged  on  the  language  question.  The  Germans  adhered  tenaci- 
ously to  their  mother  tongue,  and  they  desired  to  be  connected  w^ith  the  East 
German  Conference,  so  as  to  have  men  available  w^ho  could  preach  to  them 
in  the  German  language.  This  strong  attachment  of  the  Germans  to  their 
language  w^as  the  cause  of  a  great  deal  of  trouble  in  quite  a  number  of  other 
congregations  in  various  parts  of  the  church.  The  local  church  at  Florin  had 
been  organized  into  tw^o  classes,  one  an  English  class  and  the  other  a  German 
class,  and  in  1876  the  German  class  withdrew  from  the  congregation  and 
united  w^ith  the  East  German  Conference,  and  built  a  new  church  at  the  w^est 
end  of  the  town.  After  years  of  struggle  and  dissatisfaction  this  church  vs^as 
ceded  to  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  dedicated  as  such  June  15, 
1890. 

Rev.  J.  R.  Reitzel  w^as  appointed  pastor  of  the  church  in  1871;  C.  S. 
Meily,  1872;  G.  A.  Loose,  1873-74;  I.  M.  Groff,  1875;  J.  P.  Smith,  1876;  P. 
A.  Bowman,  1877-78;  I.  H.Albright,  1879-80-81,  who  walked  fourteen  and 
fifteen  miles  alternately  every  Sunday,  including  Saturday  evening,  to  fill  his 
appointments;  J.  L.  Nicholas,  1882;  L.  R.  Kramer,  1883-84-85,  under  w^hom 
a  stable  w^as  built  on  the  rear  of  the  lot;  S.  R.  Gipple,  1886-87-88,  under 
whom  the  church  was  remodeled;  J.  G.  Smoker,  1889;  J.  B.  Daugherty,  1890; 
J.  K.  Wagner,  1891  ;  J.  M.  Shelly,  1892-93;  J.  F.  Smith,  1894-95-96;  M.  A. 
Salt,  1897-98;  H.  M.  Miller,  1899-1900-01-02-03,  during  whose  last  year 
Florin  became  a  mission  station,  and  Elizabethtownw^as  detached  and  formed 
into  a  separate  charge;  G.  W.  Shires,  1904;  A.  Lehman,  1905-06;  N.  L. 
Linebaugh,   1907-08;  Clarence  Mease,   1909. 

Rev.  H.  M.  Miller  started  the  movement  that  resulted  in  the  erection  of  a 
new  church  in  Florin,  a  building  which  vv^as  begun  under  Rev.  A.  Lehman's 
pastorate,  and  finished  under  that  of  Rev.  N.  L.  Linebaugh.  The  corner-stone 
of  this  church  was  laid  on  Sunday,  August  4,  1907,  by  Rev.  S.  C.  Enck,  as- 
sisted by  Revs.  I.  E.  Runk  and  A.  Lehman.  The  building  was  put  up  by 
Harry  Keener,  contractor,  of  cement   block,  at   a   cost  of  $3,500,  all  of  v/hich 


no 


LANDMARK     HISTORY    OF    THE 


is  now  paid.  The  church  was  dedicated  on  Sunday,  December  8,  1907,  by- 
Rev.  L.  Keister,  D.D.,  President  of  Lebanon  Valley  College,  assisted  by  Revs. 
E.  O.  Burtner,  E.  S.  Bowman,  C.  W.  Miller,  R  A.  Bowman,  E.  H.  Hummel- 
baugh,  R.  C.  Rengier,  pastor  of  the  Mount  Joy  Lutheran  congregation,  and 
N.  L.  Linebaugh,  the  pastor,  who  worked  very  hard  to  complete  this  church. 
Great  good  has  been  accomplished  by  this  old  congregation,  the  mother 
of  all  our  United  Brethren  congregations  in  the  western  part  of  the  county. 
Rev.  J.  F.  Musselman,  now  a  missionary  in  Africa,  was  born  and  raised  in 
Florin,  and  is  a  spiritual  child  of  this  church.  This  appointment  used  to  be 
known  as  the  "Glory  Hallelujah"  appointment  on  the  circuit,  with  its  large 
amen  corners,"  well  filled  with  devout  brethren  and  sisters  ever  ready  with 
hearty  amen  responses,  as  occasion  required,  w^hich  vv^as  quite  often  in  those 
early  days.  The  amens  may  not  always  have  been  uttered  at  the  most  fitting 
time  in  the  services,  but  they  came  from  honest  hearts  and  were  helpful  to 
the  w^orshipers.  A  good  brother  in  one  of  our  congregations  who  vv^as  ac- 
customed to  say  amen  quite  frequently,  was  told  that  his  amens  were  inap- 
propriate at  times.  Shortly  afterward,  while  listening  to  an  earnest  sermon 
from  his  pastor,  which  stirred  his  heart,  he  cried  out  in  the  midst  of  the  dis- 
course, "Amen !  hit  or  miss."  This  incident  created  a  little  merriment  in  the 
congregation,  but  it  soon  subsided.  The  amen  corners  were  located  in  the 
front  part  of  the  church,  to  the  right  and  left  of  the  pulpit,  and  were  so  chris- 
tened because  most  of  the  amens  came  from  those  sitting  in  these  corners. 
We  still  have  the  corners,  but  as  far  as  our  observation  goes,  the  amens  are 
iew  and  far  between. 


RANCK'S     CHURCH 


The  Grosh-Weidman  Home 

held  is  still  standing,  and  is,  considering  its  age,  in  good  condition. 


The  history  of 
Ranck's  Church  be- 
gins vv^ith  the  year 
1802.  On  the  20th 
of  May  of  this  year, 
Rev.ChristianNew^- 
comer  preached  at 
the  residence  of 
Rev.  Christopher 
Grosh,  w^ho  lived 
on  a  farm  about 
two  miles  east  of 
New  Holland.  The 
farm  is  now^  owned 
byDr.  H.Showalter, 
of  New  Holland. 
The  house  in  which 
the    services    w^ere 


UNITED    BRETHREN    CHURCH 


III 


Rev.  Christopher  Grosh  may  well  be  regarded  as  the  earthly  founder  of 
Ranck's  Church.  He  and  his  family  were  the  first  promoters  of  the  revival 
movement  in  the  community.  In  his  house,  in  w^hich  he  provided  a  large 
upper  room,  most  of  the  religious  services  w^ere  held  up  to  the  time  of  his 
death.  After  his  death  the  farm  passed  into  the  hands  of  his  son-in-law^, 
Daniel  Weidman,  w^ith  whose  permission  the  services  were  continued  in  the 
house  until  the  church  was  built  not  far  away,  w^hich  occurred  in  1  844.  Mr. 
Grosh  w^as  of  Moravian  descent,  and  w^as  in  many  respects  a  superior  man. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  conference  of  1  789,  although  he  w^as  absent  from 
its  sessions,  and  remained  a  member  of  the  original  conference  until  his  death. 
At  the  annual  conference  of  1813,  held  at  the  house  of  Christian  Hershey,  in 
Lancaster  County,  he  w^as  chosen  as  chairman,  as  no  bishop  w^as  in  atten- 
dance. He  perceived  the  necessity  of  organization  and  system  in  advance 
of  many  of  his  brethren,  and  he  submitted  one  of  two  manuscript  copies  of 
Discipline  for  consideration  to  the  annual  conference,  w^hich  met  in  Hagers- 
town,  Md.,  in  1814.  Those  who  knew  him  well  say  that  the  part  he  per- 
formed for  the  Church  has  never  been  properly  recognized.  "He  was  greatly 
beloved  and  respected,  was  a  prudent  counselor 
and  a  preacher  mighty  in  the  Scriptures.  For 
more  than  forty  years  he  w^as  a  co-w^orker  w^ith 
the  brethren."  He  was  born  January  12,  1749, 
and  died  April  16,  1829.  His  remains,  and  those 
of  several  members  of  his  family,  were  buried  in 
the  corner  of  a  field  on  his  farm.  Their  graves 
w^ere  almost  forgotten  and  neglected.  In  the 
spring  of  1907  their  remains  w^ere  exhumed  by 
interested  relatives  and  friends,  and  reinterred 
in  the  cemetery  adjoining  Ranck's  Church. 

Mrs.  James  H.  Davis,  of  near  the  church, 
and  Mrs.  Lucetta  Boyer,  of  Ephrata,  are  the 
granddaughters  of  Christopher  Grosh,  who  are 
still  living  at  a  ripe  and  happy  old  age.  Many 
other   more    distant   relatives   are   living   in    the 

community.  Nearly  the  entire  membership  of  the  local  church,  numbering 
one  hundred  and  seventy  souls,  is  more  or  less  closely  related  w^ith  the  Grosh 
family.  Davis,  Weidman,  Martin,  Hammond,  Ranck,  Overly,  Kurtz,  Hoover, 
Groff,  names  familiar  in  the  community,  are  some  of  them. 

While  the  early  fathers  made  Grosh's  house  the  principal  preaching 
place  of  the  neighborhood,  they  also  preached  at  Jacob  Shively's,  Christian 
Bear's,  Adam  Miller's  and  Joseph  Hoover's.  The  preaching  was  done  by 
visiting  preachers  at  more  or  less  irregular  intervals  at  first,  later  every  sixteen, 
twelve  or  eight  weeks,  as  no  regular  pastoral  charges  had  as  yet  been  formed. 
The  people  were  served  acceptably  with  preaching  for  years  by  Revs.  Chris- 
tian New^comer,  Martin  Boehm,  Christopher  Grosh,  Christian  Strickler,  John 
Neidig,  John  Eckstine,  Simon  Dreisbach,  Felix  and  John   Light,  and  Solomon 


Daniel  Weidman 


112 


LANDMARK    HISTORY    OF    THE 


^ 

La 

w 

^ 

^ 

Rev.  and  Mrs,  Daniel  Funkhouser 


and  Henry  Weidman.      Under  the  preaching  of  these  men  quite  a  number  of 
persons  were  won  to  Christ,  but  the  brethren  were   slow^  in   the  organizing  of 
churches.     They  beheved  that  it  w^as  a   sin   to  "number   Israel,"  and   many  of 
the   converts  joined    other   churches.     No  great 
manifestation   of   God's   saving  pow^er  appeared 
among    these    humble    w^orkers    until    the    year 
1 838,  when    a    great   revival  was   held   at  Weid- 
man's,  w^hich    was   conducted    chiefly   by    Revs. 
John  and   Casper  Light,  and  Christian  Strickler. 
This  was  followed  by  a  greater  one  in  1839-40, 
under  the  pastoral  labors  of   Rev.  Daniel   Funk- 
houser, and  these  converts,  about  thirty  in  num- 
ber, w^ere  organized  by  him  into  a  class  or  church. 

The   propriety  of  building   a   church  now  became  an  interesting  subject 
for  consideration.     Joseph  Ranck  donated  a  plot  of  ground  for  a  church  and 

cemetery,  and  it  was  at 
once  decided  to  build. 
The  following  brethren 
were  constituted  a  board 
of  trustees:  Michael 
Ranck,  Daniel  Weidman 
and  Joseph  Ranck.  The 
work  was  commenced 
in  the  fall  of  1 844,  and 
early  in  the  spring  of 
1845  the  completed 
brick  church,  32  x  36 
feet  in  size,  was  dedi- 
cated to  the  service  of 
Almighty  God  by  Rev. 
J.  C.  Smith,  bearing  the 
name  of  Ranck's  Church 
of  the  United  Brethren 
in  Christ.  The  entrance 
doors  of  the  church  w^ere 
placed  in  the  southern 
end  of  the  building,  aw^ay 
from  the  street,  and  this 
so  displeased  Joseph 
Ranck  that  he  w^ithdrew^ 
from  the  church  and 
joined  the  Evangelical 
Association.  The  Sabbath  School  was  organized  in  1 84 1 ,  in  an  old  school- 
house  located  a  few  hundred  yards  west  of  the  church,  by  Samuel  S.  Ranck, 


Ranck  s  Church 


UNITED    BRETHREN    CHURCH  113 

assisted  by  Joseph  Ranck.  It  was  transferred  to  the  church  in  1845,  where 
it  has  been  held  ever  since. 

An  addition  of  ten  feet  was  buik  to  the  southern  end  of  the  church,  the 
entrance  doors  were  placed  at  the  northern  end,  facing  the  street,  and  a 
steeple  was  built  on  the  northern  end  and  a  bell  was  placed  in  it,  under  the 
pastorate  of  Rev.  M.  J.  Mumma.  Some  years  later  a  storm  blew  in  the  south- 
ern gable  end  of  the  church,  when  the  church  was  again  repaired. 

Several  campmeetings  were  held  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  church,  one 
about  the  year  1830  on  Weidman's  farm,  one  a  short  distance  west  of  the 
church  in  the  year  1850  or  1851,  under  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  Jacob  Brewer, 
and  one  on  the  same  ground  in  1855,  under  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  Israel  Car- 
penter. All  these  campmeetings  had  the  old-time  "sheep-pens,"  which  was 
the  name  of  the  space  set  apart  in  front  of  the  pulpit  and  around  the  "mourn- 
ers' bench,"  enclosed  by  a  rudely-constructed  railing,  and  within  which  all 
the  professors  of  religion  were  expected  to  find  their  places,  and  sing,  pray 
and  work  for  the  salvation  of  souls.  All  these  meetings  were  productive  of 
great  good. 

The  annual  conference  of  1851  was  held  in  this  church,  Bishop  Jacob 
Erb  presiding.  At  this  session  Henry  E.  Hackman,  David  Moyer  and  Solo- 
mon Weidman  received  license  to  preach.  It  was  attended  by  twenty-seven 
preachers,  and  the  sixteen  pastoral  charges,  composing  the  entire  conference, 
reported  a  total  membership  of  2,301. 

In  1876  the  cemetery  adjoining  the  church  was  enlarged  by  the  purchase 
of  an  acre  of  ground  from  Samuel  Shaffer  for  $300.  In  the  fall  of  1908  the 
property  located  immediately  west  of  the  church  was  bought  of  Mrs.  Sarah  J. 
Ranck  for  $800.  Shortly  after  this  the  stable  on  this  property  was  rebuilt 
and  the  long  horse-sheds  w^ere  put  up  at  a  cost  of  over  $300.  Negotiations 
are  now  well  on  the  way  for  the  purchase  of  another  acre  of  ground  for  cem- 
etery purposes  from  Horace  Sw^eigert. 

Lanca^er  Circuit,  consisting  of  thirty  appointments,  was  formed  at  the 
annual  conference  of  1823,  and  Grosh's  home,  later  Weidman's,  was  one  of 
these.  These  appointments  embraced  a  very  large  territory  in  the  original 
conference,  all  east  of  the  Susquehanna  river.  The  early  pastors  traveled 
this  vast  territory  on  horseback,  where  they  did  most  of  their  studying,  pray- 
ing, and  often  preached  to  themselves  or  to  imaginary  congregations  as  a 
matter  of  practice  in  the  art  of  preaching.  They  considered  themselves  w^ell 
equipped  for  their  work  if  they  had  their  hearts  aglow  with  the  love  of  God, 
and  possessed  a  good  horse,  a  saddle  and  bridle,  and  the  inevitable  "saddle- 
bags," containing  a  Bible,  a  hymn-book,  and  a  few  necessary  articles  of  ap- 
parel. Newcomer  says,  "We  graduated  on  horseback,  instead  of  in  large 
buildings."  The  modern  innovation  of  an  aeroplane,  automobile,  bicycle  or 
buggy  was  an  unheard-of  luxury  for  itinerants  in  those  days. 

As  new  pastoral  charges  were  formed  out  of  this  large  circuit,  the  charge 
to  w^hich  Ranch's  Church  belonged  became  known  by  the  name  of  New  Hol- 
land Circuit,  and  now  for  some   years  it  is  called   New  Holland  Charge,  with 


114  LANDMARK     HISTORY     OF    THE 

two  appointments.  Ranck's  Church  is  now  the  oldest  United  Brethren 
church  in  Lancaster  County,  and  is  Hkely  to  serve  the  congregation  for  many 
years  to  come.  It  is  the  mother-church  of  nearly  all  our  other  churches  in 
the  central  and  eastern  part  of  the  county. 

The  following  is  the  list  of  pastors  of  the  Grosh-Weidman  appointment 
and  Ranck's  Church,  under  all  the  various  changes  of  boundaries  effecting 
the  original  circuit:  Revs.  Jacob  Erb,  from  March,  1823,  to  March,  1824;  pas- 
tor uncertain  in  1824;  Jacob  Erb,  1825-26;  Gideon  Smith,  1827;  Simon 
Dreisbach,  1828-29-30;  Gideon  Smith,  1831  ;  David  Runk,  1832;  Jacob  Roop 
and  John  Snyder,  1833;  Daniel  Funkhouser,  1834;  Jacob  Schneider,  1835; 
Christian  Hershey,  1836;  John  Eckstein,  1837;  Daniel  Funkhouser,  1838-39; 
Jacob  Winger,  1  840  ;  Adam  Sand  and  Henry  Stabley,  I  84  1  ;  Christian  Peffley, 
1842;  Samuel  Seiders,  1843;  Samuel  Seiders  and  Henry  Staub,  1844;  Henry 
Staub  and  Simon  Noll,   1  845  ;  David  Gingerich  and  George  Gilbert,   I  846 ;  D. 

0.  Farrell,  1847;  George  Gilbert,  1848-49;  Jacob  Brewer,  1850-51;  Simon 
Zimmerman,  1852-53;  J.  G.  Fritz,  1854;  Israel  Carpenter,  1855;  P.  J.  Riland, 
1856-57;  Samuel  Seiders,  1858,  who  died  here  and  is  buried  at  Ranck's 
Church;  Jacob  Brewer,  1859-60;  George  Gilbert,  1861;  W.  S.  H.  Keys, 
1862-63-64-65;  I.  Baltzell,  1866;  A.  E.  Yeager,  1867-68;  D.  O.  Farrell,  1869- 
70;  M.  J.  Mumma,  1871-72-73-74;  J.  F.  Mower,  1875-76-77;  J.  C.  Mumma, 
1878-79;  J.  B.  Funk,  1880-81-82;  E.  L.  Hughes,  1883-84-85;  M.J.  Mumma, 
1886;  T.  Garland,  1887-88;  J.  R.  Meredith,  1889  to  October,  1890;  Z.  A. 
Weidler,  1891-92;  L.  Peters,  from  October,  1892,  to  May,  1893,  who  also 
died  here;  S.  C.  Enck,  from  May,  1893,  to  October,  1893;  M.  A.  Salt,  1894- 
95-96;   J.  G.  Smoker,    1897-98-99-00-01;    C.  A.  Mutch,    1902-03-04-05-06; 

1.  H.  Albright,  1907-08-09-10— 

Ranck's  Church  is  located  in  the  midst  of  a  thickly  settled  community 
about  two  and  a  half  miles  southeast  of  New  Holland,  and  its  membership  is 
composed  of  a  sturdy,  conservative  people,  most  of  whom  take  great  interest 
in  the  development  of  the  local  as  well  as  the  general  work  of  the*^church.  It 
has  an  endowment  fund  of  $1,600,  well  invested,  the  interest  of  which  is  used 
to  keep  up  the  church  and  cemetery  and  help  to  support  the  pastor. 

During  the  week  of  May  17-24,  1908,  the  one  hundred  and  sixth  anni- 
versary of  the  first  preaching  done  by  our  brethren  in  Ranck's  neighborhood 
w^as  joyfully  celebrated.  It  was  a  home-coming  w^eek  for  the  former  members 
and  friends  who  had  moved  away,  and  many  of  these  came  back  to  the  old 
home  church  and  participated  in  these  services,  w^hich  w^ere  very  inspirational 
to  all,  and  especially  helpful  to  the  local  church.  The  follow^ing  ministers, 
most  of  them  ex- pastors  of  the  charge,  took  prominent  part  in  the  services: 
Rev.  L.  Keister,  D.D.,  President  of  Lebanon  Valley  College ;  Presiding  Elder 
D.  D.  Lowery,  D.D.,  Revs.  T.  Garland,  C.  A.  Mutch,  Z.  A.  Weidler,  S.  C.  Enck 
and  J.  B.  Funk. 


UNITED    BRETHREN    CHURCH  115 


MOUNTVILLE    CHURCH 

Mountville  is  a  thriving  town  of  about  seven  hundred  inhabitants,  located 
six  miles  west  of  Lancaster.  It  is  a  beautiful  little  city  set  on  a  hill  that  can- 
not be  hid.  The  first  preachers  of  our  church  who  visited  this  community 
preached  in  an  old  abandoned  still-house  on  John  Hoover's  farm,  one  mile 
north  of  town.  John  Hoover  and  his  wife  and  Jonas  Garber  and  his  wife 
were  the  only  members  of  our  church  in  the  community  at  that  time.  Later 
the  services  were  held  in  an  old  union  church  located  on  the  north  side  of 
the  town.  This  was  the  first  church  in  the  village,  and  was  erected  with 
money  raised  by  lottery.  It  was  also  used  for  school  purposes.  Some  great 
revivals  were  held  in  it,  and  many  souls  were  won  to  Christ.  Among  the 
converts  w^ho  became  prominent  in  the  church  w^ere  Joseph  Friday  and  his 
wife,  Cornelius  Gram  and  Annie  Stillinger.  Some  of  the  old  members  say, 
"They  had  shouting  times  in  this  old  church."  The  floor  of  the  building 
broke  down  at  one  of  the  great  meetings,  and  several  persons  who  were  no 
professors  of  religion  held  the  hot  stove  to  prevent  it  from  going  down  too. 
In  saving  the  church  from  being  burned  down  they  performed  an  excellent 
service  for  the  good  of  the  meeting. 

As  our  people  became  more  numerous  they  began  to  make  arrangements 
to  build  a  church  of  their  ow^n.  Rev.  Jacob  Erb,  w^ho  lived  here  then,  and 
w^ho  later  served  the  church  many  years  as  a  bishop,  donated  a  plot  of  ground 
for  a  church,  burnt  the  brick  on  his  farm  and  helped  to  erect  the  building. 
It  was  built  in  1845,  about  30x40  feet  in  size,  on  the  site  now  occupied  by  the 
new  church  that  was  built  in  1907.  This  was  the  third  United  Brethren 
church  built  in  Lancaster  County.  The  follow^ing  were  the  trustees  of  the 
church  :  John  Hoover,  Jonas  Garber  and  John  Marks.  In  this  plain  but  sub- 
stantial building  the  brethren  worshiped  for  a  period  of  twenty-five  years, 
enjoying  many  precious  seasons  of  grace  and  w^inning  many  souls  to  Christ, 
some  of  w^hom  are  still  in  active  church  work. 

The  congregation  grew  and  the  old  building  remained  the  same  in  size 
and  was  now^  too  small  and  inadequate  to  accommodate  the  still  growling 
congregation.  Plans  were  formed  for  the  erection  of  a  larger  church  upon 
another  location  in  town.  The  lot  upon  which  the  old  church  stood  w^as  sold, 
the  dead  were  exhumed  and  reinterred  in  the  Mountville  Cemetery,  the  old 
church  w^as  torn  down  and  much  of  the  material  used  in  its  construction  was 
used  in  the  erection  of  a  new  two-storied  brick  church  on  the  site  now  occu- 
pied by  the  new  and  commodious  parsonage.  This  church  was  built  in  1870 
under  the  pastorial  labors  of  Rev.  I.  Baltzell,  who  was  for  many  years  a  promi- 
nent w^orker  in  the  conference,  thirteen  years  a  presiding  elder,  and  who  did 
very  much  for  the  improvement  of  the  music  of  the  church,  especially  in  its 
Sunday  Schools,  being  the  author  of  several  music  books  that  became  very 
popular.  This  church  was  at  that  time  considered  one  of  the  best  churches 
in  the  conference.     It  was  dedicated  to  God  on  the  first  Sunday  of  December^ 


116  LANDMARK     HISTORY    OF    THE 

1870,  by  Bishop  J.  Weaver,  D.D.  The  trustees  of  the  church  at  this  time 
were  Jonas  Garber,  John  Hoover,  J.  Halls  Friday,  J.  H.  Witmer  and  John 
Marks.  A  debt  of  about  $3,000  was  resting  on  the  church  property  in  the 
spring  of  1885.  By  the  heoric  efforts  of  Rev.  H.  B.  Dohner,  the  pastor,  and 
the  members  and  friends  of  the  church,  this  debt  w^as  canceled  during  that 
year.  A  great  revival  followed  this  noble  and  self-sacrificing  work,  and  one 
hundred  members  were  added  to  the  church  in  one  year. 

The  Mountville  Church,  like  many  others,  in  its  early  history  belonged  to 
a  large  circuit,  and  the  people  -were  accustomed  to  go  a  great  distance  often 
to  attend  a  quarterly  conference  or  communion  service.  Such  services  meant 
vastly  more  forty  years  ago  than  they  do  now^,  especially  in  the  rural  districts, 
w^here  the  appointments  were  far  apart.  The  approach  of  a  quarterly  meeting 
was  anticipated  w^ith  much  interest  and  eagerness  upon  the  part  of  the  mem- 
bers. The  quarterly  conference  generally  met  on  Saturday  morning  or  after- 
noon, and  the  business  started  in  a  spiritual  atmosphere,  opening  w^ith  prayer, 
exhortation  and  singing.  The  presiding  elder,  w^ho  was  looked  up  to  as  a 
great  man,  always  presided  on  such  occasions.  The  members  came  from  far 
and  near,  representing  each  appointment  on  the  charge,  and  brought  some 
members  of  their  families  with  them,  generally  the  wife  and  some  of  the 
children,  making  an  attendance  of  twenty-five  or  fifty  persons,  to  say  nothing 
of  those  w^ho  lived  w^here  the  conference  was  held.  These  official  members 
and  visitors  were  generously  provided  with  homes  during  the  meeting,  which 
lasted  over  Sunday  or  Monday  evening,  except  in  the  fall  or  winter,  w^hen  it 
continued  as  a  revival  for  w^eeks.  Sometimes  the  revival  began  in  the  quar- 
terly conference  on  Saturday,  w^hich  is  largely  accounted  for  upon  the  ground 
that  parents  often  brought  their  children  and  husbands  their  wives,  and  vice 
versa,  for  the  sake  of  their  conversion.  They  also  took  them  to  the  camp- 
meetings  for  the  same  purpose.  If  the  revival  fire  failed  to  break  out  on  Sat- 
urday during  the  day,  it  was  sure  to  break  out  in  the  evening,  w^hich  was  al- 
ways an  interesting  and  edifying  occasion.  And  those  revivals  were  not 
scenes  of  mere  intense  excitement  or  morbid  emotion,  as  some  may  think 
and  say,  and  as  we  have  witnessed  them  in  recent  years,  but  they  were  occa- 
sions of  pungent  conviction  and  deep  sorrow  for  sin,  culminating  in  a  sense 
of  forgiveness  which  made  joy  the  dominant  note  of  the  time.  This  is  the 
sort  of  a  revival  our  souls  long  to  see,  and  which  we  pray  may  spread  from 
heart  to  heart,  from  home  to  home,  and  from  conference  to  conference. 

The  second  church  at  Mountville  served  all  the  needs  of  the  congregation 
for  a  period  of  thirty-seven  years,  when  a  larger  and  more  modern  church 
was  needed.  A  number  of  efforts  to  rebuild  were  made  under  several  pas- 
torates, but  the  building  did  not  materialize.  In  the  fall  of  1904,  under  the 
pastoral  labors  of  Rev.  J.  M.  Walters,  a  subscription  list  was  started  in  earnest 
w^ith  a  view^  of  building  a  good  church.  The  trustees  for  this  church  were 
J.  H.  Witmer,  R.  M.  Friday,  J.  G.  Stehman,  H.  S.  Immel,  J.  P.  Gable,  John  H. 
Lehman,  J.  M.  Weller,  who  with  the  following  added,  A.  B.  Fisher  and  Rev. 
J.  M.  Walters,  constituted  the  building  committee.     These  trustees  bought  the 


UNITED    BRETHREN    CHURCH 


117 


lot  back  again  upon  which  the  first  church  had  stood  for  $1,000,  and  pro- 
ceeded to  build  the  new  church  upon  it.  In  March,  1905,  the  old  church  was 
torn  down,  and  much  of  the  material  of  the  first  church  that  was  used  in  the 
second  and  that  of 
the  second  church 
w^as  used  in  the 
erection  of  the  pres- 
ent edifice.  During 
its  construction  the 
congregation  wor- 
shiped in  Mechan- 
ics Hall  for  two 
years,  then  in  the 
Mennonite  church 
during  the  summer 
of  1907,  until  the 
Sunday  School 
room  w^as  finished, 
w^hen  all  the  ser- 
vices w^ere  held 
there  until  the  audi- 
ence room  w^as 
completed.  The 
corner-stone  of  this 
church  w^as  laid 
July  23,  1905,  by 
Rev.  D.  D.  Lowery, 
D.D.,  presiding  eld- 
er of  the  confer- 
ence, who  has  been 
serving  in  that  ca- 
pacity for  a  period 
of  seventeen  con- 
secutive years.  The  church  is  56x88  feet  in  size,  is  substantially  built  of 
stone,  w^hich  have  a  beautiful  marble-like  appearance.  The  church  is  well 
equipped  for  a  long  and  splendid  service  in  the  Master's  kingdom,  among  its 
furnishings  being  a  large  pipe-organ.  It  w^as  erected  at  a  cost  of^$33,000, 
and  was  dedicated  to  the  triune  God  on  Sunday,  September  22,  1907,  by 
Rev.  W.  R.  Funk,  D.D.,  agent  of  the  Publishing  House  at  Dayton,  O.,  assisted 
by  Rev.  J.  M.  Walters,  the  faithful  pastor,  who  w^orked  hard  in  helping  to 
carry  this  great  undertaking  through  to  its  successful  completion. 

The  parsonage  was  erected  in  1909  under  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  R.  R. 
ButterAvick,  on  the  site  that  had  been  occupied  by  the  second  church,  at  a 
cost  of  $5,000.  It  is  one  of  the  best  parsonages  in  the  conference,  and  is 
furnished  throughout  w^ith  all  the  modern  conveniences. 


Mountville  Church 


118 


LANDMARK    HISTORY    OF    THE 


As  far  as  we  could  learn,  the  preachers  who  traveled  Lancaster  Circuit 
preached  at  the  Mountville  appointment  until  Mountville  Circuit  was  formed, 

which  occurred  about  the  year  1862. 
The  following  is  a  list  of  the  pastors  who 
preached  in  the  Mountville  church,  each 
beginning  his  pastorate  in  the  spring  of 
the  year  up  to  the  year  1  889,  when  the 
annual  conference  began  to  hold  its  ses- 
sions in  the  fall  of  the  year:  Revs.  Joseph 
Young,  1  862-63  ;  W.  R.  Coursay  and  G. 
A.  Lee,  1 864  ;  Israel  Carpenter  and  W. 
R.  Coursay,  I  865  ;  Israel  Carpenter,  1  866  ; 
W.  S.  H.  Keys,  1867-68;  A.  H.  Kauff- 
man,  1869;  I.  Baltzell,  1870-71-72;  J.  C. 
Mumma,  1873-74-75-76;  I.  Carpenter, 
1877;  E.  L.  Hughes,  1878-79-80;  M.J. 
Mumma,  1881-82-83;  H.  B.  Dohner, 
1884-85;  E.  Ludwig,  1886-87-88;  J.  A. 
Lyter,  from  October,  1 888,  to  October, 
1891;  Z.  A.  Weidler,  1892-93;  G.  L. 
Shaffer,  1894-95;  A.  L.  Shannon,  1896- 
97;  J.  T.  Shaffer,  1898-99;  D.  S.  Eshel- 
man,  1900-01-02;  J.  M.  Walters,  1903- 
Rev.  D.  D.  Lowery,  D.D,  04-05-06-07;  R.  R.  Butterwick,  1908-09— 

The  annual  conference  of  1852  was  held  here  in  the  first  church.  Bishop 
J.  J.  Glossbrenner,  D.D.,  presiding,  and  again  in  the  second  church  in  1871, 
with  Bishop  J.  Weaver,  D.D.,  presiding;  also  in  1886,  with  Bishop  J.  Dickson, 
D.D.,  presiding. 

The  Mountville  congregation  helped  to  establish  our  church  in  Colum- 
bia, Ironville,  Centerville,  Silver  Spring,  Marietta,  Lancaster;  also  Stehman's 
Church,  Green  Hill  Church,  Highville  Church,  and  some  others,  thus  greatly 
multiplying  her  usefulness  in  the  Lord's  service. 


SOUDERSBURG  — ST.    JOHN'S    CHURCH 

In  the  year  1843  the  Church  of  the  United  Brethren  in  Christ  first  be- 
came known  in  this  community.  Jacob  Stehman,  of  Soudersburg,  identified 
himself  with  the  church  at  Intercourse,  three  miles  away, 
where  he  was  a  most  faithful  worker  and  regular  attendant, 
becoming  later  a  local  preacher.  In  the  fall  of  1 846  a 
congregation  was  organized  in  Soudersburg,  with  the  fol- 
lowing as  its  charter  members :  Jacob  Stehman,  Mariah 
Stehman,  Michael  Good,  Polly  Good,  Andrew  Stiffel,  Jacob 
Groff,  Mary  Groff,  Mary  McAllister  and  William  Given. 
Nearly  all  of  these  persons  had  been  members  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church  near  the  town,  but  on  account  of  a  Rev.  Jacob  Stehman 


UNITED    BRETHREN    CHURCH  119 

disagreement  with  reference  to  matters  of  church  pohty  they  withdrew  from 
that  church  and  joined  ours. 

In  1847  a  small  frame  church  w^as  built  in  Soudersburg,  about  30x35  feet 
in  size,  under  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  D.  O.  Farrell,  who  then  was  pastor  of 
Lancaster  Circuit.  This  church  w^as  known  as  the  "little  w^hite  church, "  and 
here  God  was  pleased  to  bless  this  small  band  of  w^orshipers  very  greatly 
with  some  of  the  greatest  revivals  of  religion  ever  held  in  the  community. 
Many  persons  were  here  w^on  to  Christ  through  the  consecrated  efforts  of  his 
people.  For  a  period  of  about  tw^enty-two  years  the  congregation  held  its 
services  in  this  building.  Rev.  M.  J.  Mumma  held  a  meeting  in  this  church 
which  commenced  on  the  evening  of  Thanksgiving  Day,  which  was  not 
without  penitents  for  a  single  evening  from  its  beginning  to  its  close  on  the 
last  Saturday  evening  of  the  following  March.  There  w^ere  seventy-five  con- 
versions reported,  among  them  w^ere  some  of  the  best  citizens  of  the  tow^n 
and  of  several  of  the  adjoining  towns.  This  great  meeting  w^as  held  in  the 
wfinter  of  1871  -72,  and  in  the  spring  of  1  872  the  Sunday  School  w^as  organized. 
The  growth  of  the  congregation  by  this  time  developed  into  the  necessity  of 
having  a  larger  and  more  convenient  house  of  worship. 

When  the  question  of  building  a  new  church  arose  there  w^as  considerable 
discussion  among  the  people  as  to  where  it  should  be  built.  The  members 
chiefly  resided  in  Soudersburg,  Paradise  and  Gordonville,  located  from  half 
a  mile  to  a  mile  apart.  Each  tow^n  w^anted  the  church.  As  a  compromise 
measure  it  w^as  pretty  generally  agreed  to  build  midway  between  the  three 
tow^ns.  After  the  location  had  been  settled  some  still  contended  that  it  vv^as 
a  poor  one,  out  in  the  country,  and  some  one  said,  "it  is  half  a  mile  from 
nowhere."  But  time  has  proved  that  the  church  is  w^ell  located,  on  a  beautiful 
elevated  plot  of  ground  know^n  as  "Sample's  Hill, "  convenient  to  the  three 
towns,  especially  since  the  electric  railw^ay  cars  run  by  it. 

In  1876  the  tract  of  land  upon  which  the  church  now^  stands  was  bought 
of  Mr.  H.  Espenshade  at  a  cost  of  $500.  The  corner-stone  of  the  church  was 
laid  in  the  spring  of  1877  under  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  J.  D.  Killian,  under 
whom  also  the  building  w^as  completed  during  the  following  spring  at  a  cost 
of  $6,000.  It  is  a  beautiful  and  commodious  house  of  worship.  It  is  a  brick, 
pilastered  structure,  44  x  62  feet,  with  an  addition  of  a  four-foot  pulpit  recess. 
The  story  is  twenty  feet  in  the  clear,  w^ith  a  heavy  cornice  of  gilt  and  bright 
blue,  v^hich  corresponds  in  color  w^ith  the  handsome  chandeliers  suspended 
from  the  ceiling,  and  which  light  up  the  audience  room  brilliantly.  This 
church,  named  St.  John's,  was  not  dedicated  to  God  until  many  years  after 
its  completion,  although  two  distinct  efforts  had  been  made  to  do  so,  one  on 
May  19,  1878,  by  Bishop  J.  J.  Glossbrenner,  D.D.,  and  another  in  December, 
1  882.  Both  efforts  resulted  in  failures,  as  they  "stalled  each  time  at  the  bot- 
tom of  the  financial  hill. " 

Shortly  after  the  church  w^as  built  the  brethren  of  the  Soudersburg  church 
went  to  Lancaster  to  secure  a  charter  for  said  church,  and  to  incorporate  the 
Soudersburg   class   into   the   congregation    of   St.  John's   Church   of  Paradise. 


120 


LANDMARK     HISTORY    OF    THE 


The    names   of   the   brethren  who    procured   the   papers  of  incorporation  are 
Daniel    Espenshade,   Benjamin    Herr,   Amos   Hershey,   Jacob   Stehman,   John 

Burkey,  EHas  Irwin,  Elam 
Hershey,  D.  Longenecker 
and  A.  B.  Bender.  Imme- 
diately, in  harmony  with 
the  provisions  of  the  char- 
ter, a  legally  recognized 
board  of  trusteeswaselected 
by  the  St.  John's  congrega- 
tion, into  w^hose  hands  the 
property  was  transferred, 
to  be  held  in  sacred  trust 
for  the  members  of  the 
congregation  and  for  the 
East  Pennsylvania  Confer- 
ence of  the  Church  of  the 
United  Brethren  in  Christ. 
The  follow^ing  individuals 
composed  the  first  board, 
w^ho  w^ere  elected  to  office 
after  the  church  had  been 
St  Johns  Church  Completed  :  Elam  Hershey, 

Jacob  Stehman,  D.  Longenecker,  John  Groff  and  Abraham  Ressler. 

In  the  spring  of  1878  the  congregation  moved  out  of  the  old  church  at 
Soudersburg  into  the  new  church,  but  a  heavy  debt  like  a  huge  black  cloud 
rested  upon  this  property,  w^hich  not  only  greatly  hindered  its  success  in  the 
Lord's  v/ork,  but  also  threatened  its  very  existence.  The  debt  grew  w^ith  age 
and  became  more  and  more  a  stubborn  problem  to  solve.  For  a  period  of 
tw^elve  years  but  little  was  done  to  relieve  the  situation.  There  were  several 
causes  for  this  heavy  debt,  which  w^e  note  here,  and  w^hich  one  of  the  pastors 
of  the  church  gathered  from  the  minutes  of  the  proceedings  of  the  board  of 
trustees,  as  follows :  "There  was  too  large  a  vision  of  the  financial  ability  of 
those  upon  whom  the  heavy  expenses  incident  to  the  building  of  the  church 
eventually  devolved,  on  the  faith  of  those  who  planned  and  built  it.  There 
w^as  also  a  lack  of  Christian  economy  before  and  after  its  erection,  and  there 
w^as  a  failure  to  proceed  on  a  strong  financial  basis  in  an  honest  business-like 
way  in  the  transactions  of  the  board." 

Whatever  the  causes  for  the  heavy  debt  may  have  been,  under  its  pres- 
sure the  membership  of  the  church  gradually  dwindled  down  to  almost  noth- 
ing, some  having  moved  away  or  died,  some  joining  other  neighboring 
churches,  and  others  making  shipw^reck  of  their  faith.  By  this  time  many  be- 
gan to  believe  in  the  truthfulness  of  the  common  saying,  "That  it  is  one  thing 
to  build  a  church  and  quite  another  to  pay  for  it.  "  Matters  in  connection 
w^ith  the  church  had  gone  from  bad  to  worse,  until  it  became  so  serious  that 


UNITED    BRETHREN    CHURCH  121 

the  annual  conference,  held  in  Mountville  in  I  890,  ordered  that  the  property 
be  sold,  and  appointed  a  board  of  trustees  to  execute  this  order  in  harmony 
with  the  discipline  of  the  church.  The  brethren  who  were  elected  to  per- 
form this  unpleasant  task  were  Benjamin  Herr,  Harry  Murr,  D.  Espenshade, 
D.  Longenecker  and  John  Glouner.  Instead  of  selling  the  church,  as  they 
were  ordered  to  do  by  the  conference,  these  trustees  with  other  friends  put 
forth  heroic  efforts  to  save  it,  and  they  succeeded  in  doing  so.  D.  Espenshade 
and  D.  Longenecker  placed  themselves  under  the  load  by  giving  their  indi- 
vidual notes  to  relieve  the  situation :  be  it  said  to  their  everlasting  credit. 
They  were  friends  of  the  church  in  need  and  in  deed.  This  noble  and  gen- 
erous act  of  theirs  gave  at  least  temporary  relief,  and  the  church  at  once  went 
to  w^ork  in  earnest  to  raise  some  money.  They  succeeded  in  securing  some 
funds,  but  not  enough  to  satisfy  the  claimants.  On  Christmas,  1  89  1 ,  Rev.  H. 
F.  McNelly  assumed  the  pastorate  of  St.  John's  congregation  by  appointment 
of  Presiding  Elder  H.  B.  Dohner.  At  this  time  the  church  w^as  in  the  hands 
of  the  sheriff.  Brother  McNelly  says,  "Then  -we  had  but  fev/  people,  about 
twenty  members  all  told.  The  church  had  lost  her  influence,  and  the  work 
was  generally  an  uphill  business.  The  year  1 892  was  spent  in  getting  the 
debt  adjusted  and  in  making  very  necessary  repairs. "  Within  these  quotation 
marks,  with  a  few  strokes  of  the  pen,  this  modest  brother  pastor  records  a 
year  of  splendid  achievements,  thus  turning  a  church  that  w^as  almost  hope- 
lessly lost  to  us  on  to  a  march  of  triumph  and  success,  w^hich  still  continues. 
The  struggles  of  this  church  under  its  load  of  debt  for  so  many  years,  especi- 
ally of  the  pastors  of  this  period,  who  labored  under  great  disadvantage,  re- 
mind us  of  the  fact  that  the  w^ork  of  the  Christian  minister  is  the  hardest 
and  the  sv/eetest  work  on  earth,  the  hardest  w^hen  the  w^ork  drags  and  appar- 
ently fails,  and  the  sweetest  when  victory  crow^ns  his  efforts. 

The  church  was  finally  dedicated  to  God  on  Christmas,  1  892,  by  Bishop 
N.  Castle,  D.D.,  fifteen  years  after  its  erection,  w^ith  its  entire  indebtedness 
provided  for.  And  best  of  all,  after  these  solemn  services  w^ere  concluded 
the  meeting  was  continued,  in  v/hich  ninety-one  souls  v/ere  converted  to  God 
and  seventy-eight  new^  members  w^ere  received  into  church  fellow^ship,  sixty- 
six  of  whom  were  heads  of  families.  This  great  meeting  firmly  established 
the  church  and  restored  her  lost  prestige  in  the  community.  Shortly  after 
this  thirty-six  more  members  w^ere  added  to  swell  the  growing  numbers, 
many  of  w^hom  w^ere  among  the  leading  citizens  of  the  community. 

In  1892  St.  John's  Church  was  made  a  station,  and  has  remained  such 
ever  since.  The  early  pastors  w^ho  served  this  congregation  w^hile  connected 
with  New  Holland  Circuit  up  to  the  year  1875  were  Revs.  Samuel  Seiders, 
Henry  Staub,  Simon  Noll,  George  Gilbert,  D.  O.  Farrell,  Jacob  Brewer,  S. 
Zimmerman,  J.  G.  Fritz,  I.  Carpenter,  P.  J.  Riland,  W.  S.  H.  Keys,  I.  Baltzell, 
A.  F.  Yeager  and  M.  J.  Mumma.  In  1875  Intercourse,  Soudersburg,  Straus- 
burg,  Monterey  and  Mount  Pleasant  were  constituted  a  pastoral  charge,  and 
the  following  were  the  pastors  of  St.  John's  Church  ever  since  under  all  the 
change  of  boundaries  that  may  have  occurred:   Revs.  J.  K.  Fisher,  1875-76; 


122  LANDMARK    HISTORY    OF    THE 

J.  D.  Killian,  1877-78;  J.  S.  Riddle,  1879;  I.  M.  Groff,  1880;  E.  L.  Hughes, 
1881-82;  J.  N.  Munden,  1883:  L.  Peters,  1884-85;  M.  A.  Salt,  1886-87;  P. 
A.  Bowman,  1  888  ;  Z.  C.  Mower,  1  889  to  March,  1  890  ;  M.  P.  Sanders,  1  890  ; 
H.  F.  McNelly,  1891-92-93-94-95;  L.  R.  Kramer,  1896;  E.  O.  Burtner,  1897; 
H.  T.  Denlinger,  who  resigned,  and  G.  W.  M.  Rigor  was  appointed  1  898,  who 
enjoyed  a  successful  year  ;  A.  K.  Wier,  1  899-00-0  1 ,  who  served  a  prosperous 
term  and  under  whom  the  last  dollar  of  indebtedness  on  the  property  was  paid  ; 
W.  O.Jones  and  E.  F.Sherman,  1902;  H.  C.  Philips,  1903  ;  E.  J.  Renshaw,  from 
1  904  to  the  present  time.  This  brother  has  had  marvelous  success  in  this  con- 
gregation, especially  along  evangelistic  and  spiritual  lines,  and  is  deservedly 
popular  among  his  people  and  in  the  community.  The  congregation  has  passed 
through  many  difficulties  and  endured  much  affliction,  but  only  the  dross  was 
separated  from  the  pure  gold,  which  was  made  the  purer  and  better  by  the  fires 
through  which  it  passed.  A  few  years  ago  a  fine  large  parsonage  was  erected 
on  a  lot  adjoining  the  church  under  the  present  pastor. 

P  AN  NAB  EC  KER'S— PARADISE    CHURCH 

This  church  is  located  in  Clay  Township,  near  the  northern  boundary 
line  of  the  county,  and  near  the  village  of  Hopeland.  Rev.  Samuel  Seiders 
traveled  Berks  County  Circuit  in  |  844-45-46,  and  during  these  years  he  occa- 
sionally came  into  this  neighborhood  and  preached  in  the  barns  that  belonged 
to  Gideon  Weidman  and  Jacob  Snyder,  the  only  members  of  our  chuich  who 
lived  in  this  section.  In  the  Spring  of  1  846  Rev.  Simon  [•'-!!  was  eent  to  this 
circuit.  He  came  into  this  part  of  the  country  in  the  I  -  of  thi^  ;  ^ar  and 
preached  at  Gideon  Weidman's  on  a  certain  Sunday  eve  ."  '\  Jesse  Panna- 
becker,  a  prominent  citizen  and  a  member  of  the  German  i  .eformed  Church, 
was  present  at  this  service,  and  he  invited  Rev.  Noll  to  come  and  hold  ser- 
vices in  his  barn  on  Monday  evening.  The  invitation  was  kindly  received 
and  accepted.  After  the  preacher  had  preached  that  evening  he  gave  an  invi- 
tation to  seekers,  and  two  penitents  came  to  the  altar  of  prayer :  one  was  Mrs. 
Henry  Landis,  the  mother  of  Prof.  J.  P.  Landis,  D.D.,  of  Bonebrake  Theological 
Seminary,  and  Mrs.  John  Geise.  Rev.  Noll  asked  for  permission  to  hold  ser- 
vices on  Tuesday  evening  also,  which  was  granted  after  consulting  Mrs.  Panna- 
becker.  The  services  on  that  evening  were  better  than  on  the  previous 
evening.  Henry  Landis,  John  Geise  and  several  others  came  to  the  altar  of 
prayer.  Many  more  came  forward  on  Wednesday  evening.  Cold  weather 
setting  in,  the  services  were  transferred  to  Mr.  Pannabecker's  house,  where  the 
meetings  were  continued  until  eighteen  precious  souls  were  brought  into  the 
kingdom  of  God. 

These  converts  were  organized  into  a  class  with  the  following  as  its 
charter  members :  Joseph  Snyder,  Veronica  Snyder,  Gideon  Weidman,  Judith 
Weidman,  Henry  Landis  and  his  wife,  John  Geise,  Polly  Geise,  Jesse  Panna- 
becker,  Kate  Pannabecker,  Christian  DuUabohn,  Margaret  Dullabohn,  William 


UNITED     BRETHREN     CHURCH 


123 


Richardson,  Susan  Richardson,  Peter  Fidler,  Margaret  Fidler,  Samuel  Ruth,  Sr., 
Sarah  Ruth,  Henry  Cassabalm,  Catherine  Cassabalm,  David  Carpenter  and 
Sarah  Carpenter.     Jesse  Pannabecker  was  elected  the  first  leader  of  this  class. 

It  was  decided  to  build  a  church,  and  they  at  once  began  to  plan  for  it. 
At  a  quarterly  meeting  the  following  brethren  were  constituted  a  board  of 
trustees  :  Gideon  Weidman,  Joseph  Snyder  and  Jesse  Pannabecker,  the  last  one 
named  donating  a  plot  of  ground  for  the  church.  While  other  sites  that  were 
offered  w^ere  considered,  the  lot  offered  by  Mr.  Pannabecker  was  accepted. 
The  ground  for  the  new  church  was  broken  early  in  the  Spring  of  1847  ;  the 
completed  church  w^as  dedicated  in  the  fall  of  the  same  year,  under  the  pas- 
torate of  Rev.  Simon  Noll.  The  circuit  to  Vi^hich  this  church  belonged  consisted 
of  nine  appointments  in  1847,  and  the  pastor  received  on  the  whole 
charge  $100  salary  for  the  year  and  $5.50  as  presents.  He  took  in  sixty 
msmbers  at  this  one  church  in  the  tw^o  years  of  his  pastorate.  The  church  w^as 
known  as  Pannabecker's  Church 
up  to  1  859,  when  Mr.  Pannabecker 
for  some  reason  w^ithdrew^  from  the 
church,  and  the  congregation  re- 
turned to  him  all  the  money  he 
had  contributed  tow^ard  the  erec- 
tion of  the  building.  In  the  annual 
conference  minutes  of  1860  it  w^as 
called  the  "Stone  Church,"  but  this 
name  was  not  agreeable  to  the  taste 
of  Rev.  Simon  Noll,  who  was  again 
serving  the  charge  as  pastor,  and 
he  gave  it  the  name  of  "Paradise 
Church,"  which  it  retains. 

In  1889  the  church  w^as  en- 
larged and  remodeled  under  the 
pastorate  of  Rev.  A.  L.  Shannon  at 
a  cost  of  $3,000.  The  following 
brethren  constituted  the  board  of 
trustees  :  John  H.  Miller,  Jacob  H. 
Hackman,  H.  L.  Erb,  D.  M.  Weid- 
man and  George  Ruth.  The  church 
was  reopened  for  services  October  27,  1 889,  by  Rev.  C.J.  Kephart,  D.D., 
President  of  Lebanon  Valley  College,  assisted  by  Revs.  H.  B.  Dohner,  M.  J. 
Mumma,  H.  B.  Spayd,  S.  C.  Enck  and  H.  M.  Miller.  Although  the  weather  on 
this  occasion  w^as  very  unpleasant,  the  services  were  well  attended  and  suf- 
ficient funds  w^ere  provided  to  meet  all  just  claims.  These  improvements  made 
this  one  of  the  best  and  most  substantial  country  churches  in  the  conference. 

For  many  years  this  church  belonged  to  large  circuits,  as  follows  :   Berks 
County  Circuit,  Sinking  SpringCircuit,  Myerstown  Circuit, Shaefferstown  Circuit, 


Paradise  Church 


124  LANDMARK     HISTORY    OF    THE 

and  possibly  to  others,  but  now  for  some  years  past  it  is  served  as  a  station.  The 
following  pastors  served  this  church  from  its  beginning  until  now^ :  Revs.  Simon 
Noll,  1846-47;  Christian  Seachrist  and  S.  VonNeida,  1848;  Christian  Seachrist 
and  George  Smith,  1849;  Henry  Schropp,  1850;  David  Gingerich  and  H.  W. 
Landis,  185  1-52;  the  latter  resigned  during  the  last  year  and  John  Moyer  v^as 
appointed;  C.  G.  Geist  and  C.  Kauffman,  1853;  C.  G.  Geist  and  Rudolph 
Light,  1854;  Samuel  Seiders,  1855  ;  Wesley  Deitrich  and  J.  Runk,  1856;  H.  W. 
Landis,  1857;  David  Moyer,  1858;  A.  Steigerwald  and  Eph.  Light,  1859;  Simon 
Noll,  1860;  Simon  Noll  and  S.  Enterline,  I  861 ;  L.  Fleischer,  1862-63;  J.  Runk 
(resigned)  ;  George  Hoffman,  1  864  ;  John  Binkley,  1  865  ;  John  Moyer,  1  866 ;  W. 
H.  Woland  (resigned);  Mr.  Knerr,  George  Kauffman  and  H.  Dissinger,  1  867  ;  G. 
W.  Hoffman  (resigned);  Henry  and  W.  S.  Dissinger,  1  868  ;  J.  D.  A.  Garman, 
1869-70;  James  Shopp,  1871-72;  George  Shindler,  1873-74;  J.  D.  A.  Garman, 
1875-76;  S.M.  Hummel,  1877;  J.  Weirich,  1878-79-80;  J.  B.Daugherty,  1881  ; 
P.  A.  Bowman,  I  882  ;  J.  G.  Fritz  (resigned);  H.  Dissinger,  1  883  ;  W.  S.  Dissinger, 
1884  ;  W.  H.  Craumer,  1885  ;  L.  H.  Kramer,  1  886-87-88 ;  A.  L.  Shannon,  1889 
to  October,  1  890  ;  J.  G.  W.  Harold,  1 890-9  1  ;  W.  W.  Fridinger,  1  895-96-97  ;  G. 
F.  Bierman,  Ph.D.,  1898-99;  I.  N.  Seldomridge,  1900;  Charles  Bauer,  1901  ; 
S.  M.  Hummel,  1902  to  1907;   B.  M.  Breneman,  1907-08-09. 

This  church  was  quite  extensively  repaired  and  beautified  during  the  year 
1909,  and  the  large  congregation  w^as  rejoicing  in  the  midst  of  its  material  and 
spiritual  prosperity,  when  a  sudden  calamity  came  to  it.  The  beautiful  church  w^as 
struck  by  lightning  on  the  night  of  March  6,  1910,  and  destroyed,  causing  a  loss  of 
about  $5,000.  The  building  w^as  insured  to  the  amount  of  about  half  its  value. 
The  pastor.  Rev.  B.  M.  Breneman,  writes,  "It  is  certainly  a  mystery  to  us  that 
such  a  strange  providence  has  befallen  us ;  but  v/e  know^  that  God  is  good  and 
wise,  and  means  it  for  our  good.  May  it  bring  honor  and  glory  to  his  name." 
These  words  breathe  a  hopeful  spirit,  and  immediately  after  the  fire  arrange- 
ments w^ere  made  by  the  smitten  and  devoted  people  to  rebuild.  Such  hero- 
ism is  w^orthy  of  commendation.  Up  from  the  ash-heaps  there  w^ill  arise  in  a 
short  time  a  structure  of  greater  beauty  and  v/ith  better  facilities  for  w^ork  than 
the  one  that  w^as  destroyed. 

INTERCOURSE    CHURCH. 

The  origin  of  the  church  at  Intercourse  dates  from  1  839.  The  first  meetings 
w^ere  held  in  the  Old  Pond  school-house,  and  sometimes  at  the  residence  of 
Charles  Sv/eigart,  an  old  house  that  stood  in  the  rear  of  the  residence  of  Mrs. 
Mary  Ranck  ;  also  in  the  homes  of  Mrs.  Catherine  Zook  and  David  Ranck.  The 
following  is  a  list  of  the  first  members  composing  the  class :  Charles  Sweigart, 
Polly  Sweigart,  Charlotte  Miller,  Polly  Miller,  John  Miller,  David  Ranck,  Christian 
Fink,  Catherine  Zook,  John  Church  and  Julia  Church.  This  small  class  w^as 
for  a  short  time  a  part  of  Mountville  Circuit,  and  afterw^ard  became  a  part  of 
Lancaster  Circuit.  The  pastors  w^ho  served  this  circuit  also  preached  here  up 
to  the  year  1875,  vs^hen  Intercourse  Circuit  w^as  formed,  consisting  of  Inter- 
course, Monterey,  Soudersburg,  Strasburg  and  Mt.  Pleasant  appointments. 


UNITED    BRETHREN    CHURCH  125 

In  1850  the  lot  upon  which  the  new  church  now  stands  was  procured 
from  David  Ranck,  one  of  the  charter  members  of  this  class.  During  the  same 
year  a  brick  church  was  built  upon  it,  according  to  the  plans  and  specifica- 
tions as  prescribed  in  the  following  original  document: 

''First.  The  trustees  of  the  church  are  to  find  all  the  material  in  erecting 
and  finishing  the  building,  and  they  are  to  deliver  it  on  the  ground. 

''Second.  The  length  of  the  house  to  be  35  feet,  breadth  30  feet,  the  height 
of  the  story  in  the  corners  1  2  feet  from  the  floor  up,  the  ceiling  to  be  square- 

"  Third.  The  foundation  to  be  dug  deep  enough  to  make  the  building  safe 
and  secure,  the  foundation  wall  to  be  built  with  stone  to  the  joist,  and  the  joist  to 
be  clear  of  the  surface  of  earth  in  the  lowest  part  at  least  eight  inches.  The 
wall  above  the  joist  is  to  consist  of  brick,  and  the  wall  up  to  the  square  is  to 
be  1  4  inches  thick.  The  cornice  is  to  be  shaped  with  brick  ;  the  gables  above 
the  square  are  to  be  built  after  the  mode  of  brick  buildings;  and  a  central 
wall  under  the  lower  floor. 

"  Fourth.  The  side  walls  of  the  house  are  to  have  three  windows  on  each 
side,  and  one  gable,  two  windows  and  two  doors  at  one  of  the  gables,  three 
lights  above  each  door,  10x12  inches,  three  feet  wide,  and  two  aisles,  each 
three  and  one  half  feet  wide,  and  a  D  window,  central  between  the  doors, 
fixed  in  the  gable  above  the  square,  outside  walls  to  be  penciled  and  painted- 
Each  window  to  have  fifteen  lights,  each  light  10x12  inches. 

"  Fifth.  The  inside  walls  and  ceiling  of  the  house  to  be  plastered.  The 
pulpit  and  seats  are  to  be  made  after  the  mode  and  fashion  of  the  Roland 
(otherwise  Zeltenreich's)  Church.  In  addition,  a  sliding  table  to  draw  out  from 
the  pulpit,  above  the  small  door  in  the  front  side  of  the  pulpit.  And  a 
mourners'  bench  in  front  of  said  pulpit  in  such  way  and  manner  as  the  trustees 
may  direct. 

"Sixth.  Two  king  posts  to  support  the  two  girders;  and  as  many  strips  for 
to  place  hooks  in  for  hanging  clothes  on,  etc.,  as  necessary;  and  a  flue  in  the 
centre  of  the  house  from  the  ceiling  where  the  trustees  may  order,  with  a 
trap-door;  and  double  shutters  to  all  the  w^indows. 

"Seventh.  The  pulpit,  seats,  sliding  table,  window-shutters,  etc.,  etc.,  to  be 
painted  in  such  colours  as  the  trustees  may  make  choice  of. 

"  Eighth.  The  mechanic  or  mechanics  are  to  board  themselves  during  time 
of  building  said  church.  The  mechanical  work  of  said  house  shall  and  will 
be  required  by  the  trustees  to  be  substantially  made  and  finished  from  the 
foundation  to  the  top  and  through  and  in  the  house,  so  far  as  lies  in  the  art 
of  a  mechanic  or  mechanics.  The  house  to  be  finished  on  or  before  the  third 
day  of  December,  Anno  Domini  1850. 

"Given  under  our  hands,  at  Intercourse,  the  15th  day  of  June,  A.D.  1850. 

WILLIAM  GIVEN 
DANIEL  WEIDMAN 
AUGUSTUS  RODGERS" 

In  the  year  1871  David  Ranck  set  apart  another  plot  of  ground  adjoining 
the  church  lot,   and  lying  on  the   south  side  thereof,  which  he  donated  to  the 


126 


LANDMARK     HISTORY    OF    THE 


church.  Other  small  additions  to  the  church  property  w^ere  procured  later  until 
it  assumed  its   present  ample  proportions.     In   the    year  1871,  chiefly   by  the 

active  ex- 
ertions o  f 
Rev.  L.Pet- 
ers, -who  at 
that  time 
was  pre- 
siding eld- 
er, s  u  ffi- 
cient  funds 
were  rais- 
ed for  the 
enlarge- 
ment  of  the 
old  church. 
A  new^  end 
w^as  built  to 
it,  a  num- 
ber of  al- 
terations 
and     some 

Intercourse  Church  r  6  D   a  i  I  S 

made,  a  steeple  with  bell  was  placed  upon  the  building,  and  the  building 
itself  w^as  properly  painted  and  finished.  At  this  time  Rev.  M.  J.  Mumma 
was  the  pastor. 

In  1875  Intercourse  Circuit  was  formed,  and  the  following  pastors  served 
this  church  ever  since:  Revs.  J.  K.  Fisher,  1875-76;  J.  D.  Killian,  1877-78; 
J.  S.  Riddle,  1879;  I.  M.  Groff,  1880;  E.  L.  Hughes,  1881-82;  J.  N.  Munden, 
1883;  S.D.Faust,  1884;  L.  Peters,  1885;  M.  A.  Salt,  1886-87;  P.  A.  Bow- 
man, 1  888  ;  Z.  C.  Mower,  1  889  to  October,  1  890  ;  M.  P.  Sanders,  1  890-9  1  ; 
S.  G.  Kauffman,  1892-93-94;  H.  M.  Miller,  1895-96-97-98.  In  1896,  under 
the  pastorate  of  Rev.  H.  M.  Miller,  the  present  beautiful  church  was  erected. 
It  is  a  brick  structure,  30  x  50  feet  in  size,  with  a  Sunday  School  room  1  6  x  24 
feet  and  a  class  room  12x12  feet  attached.  The  building  committee  was 
composed  of  A.  R.  Kurtz,  H.  M.  Miller,  J.  E.  Zook,  I.  N.  Parmer  and  J.  M. 
Beam.  W.  H.  Ziegler  was  the  contractor  and  builder.  It  vv^as  dedicated  to 
God  by  Rev.  C.  J.  Kephart,  D.D.,  December  20,  1  896.  Rev.  Wm.  Beach  was 
the  paster  in  1 899,  who  was  followed  by  Revs.  Z.  A.  Weidler,  1 900  ;  C.  E. 
Boughter,  1901-02;  Jas.  Keene,  1903:  George  Renshaw,  1904;  W.  H.  Boyer, 
1905-06;  Clarence  Mease,   1907;   H.  M.  Klinger,  1908;   Mark  Wert,   1909. 

Under  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  W.  H.  Boyer  in  1896  the  church  had  new 
memorial  windows  placed  in  it,  was  recarpeted,  papered  and  painted,  and 
provided  with  a  new  piano,  all  at  a  cost  of  $1,000.  In  1909  electric  lights 
were  placed  in  the  church  at  a  cost  of  $65.00.  The  congregation  is  well  or- 
ganized and  is  doing  a  good  work  under   the   pastorate  of    Rev.   Mark  Wert- 


UNITED    BRETHREN    CHURCH  127 


ELIZABETHTOWN    CHURCH. 

The  United  Brethren  congregation  began  its  existence  in  this  thriving 
town  about  the  year  1852,  but  they  had  no  church  in  which  to  hold  services 
until  1853,  when  a  small  brick  church,  about  30x40  feet  in  size,  located 
where  the  present  new  church  stands,  was  bought  from  Abram  Breneman. 
The  church  had  been  built  by  the  Church  of  God  in  1852  at  a  cost  of  about 
$1,200,  and  was  dedicated  as  such  in  July  of  that  year  by  Rev.  John  Wine- 
brenner.  The  lot  upon  which  it  was  built  was  donated  for  church  purposes 
by  Abram  Breneman,  a  charter  member  of  that  denomination  who  carried  on 
a  general  store  business  in  the  town  on  the  north-east  corner  of  the  square. 
For  reasons  not  known  to  us  Mr.  Breneman  had  not  given  the  deed  of  the  lot 
to  the  church,  and  the  church  people  failed  to  demand  the  deed,  properly 
signed  and  delivered,  before  they  erected  the  building.  Not  long  after  the 
dedication  of  the  church  the  donor  of  the  lot  was  brought  before  his  brethren 
under  serious  charges.  He  was  accused  of  committing  some  misdemeanors 
in  connection  with  a  spirited  political  contest  of  that  time.  He  was  pretty 
firmly  dealt  with  by  his  brethren,  and  justly  too,  as  they  thought  but  unjustly 
according  to  the  view  of  the  defendant,  and  Mr.  Breneman  felt  very  much 
aggrieved  because  of  their  action  in  his  case.  He  at  once  began  to  negotiate 
w^ith  Rev.  David  Gingerich,  a  member  of  our  church  and  conference  who 
lived  near  tow^n,  to  sell  the  church  property  to  him  in  behalf  of  the  United 
Brethren  Church.  Fie  offered  to  "  sell  the  lot,  the  church  and  the  congrega- 
tion "  at  a  low  figure.  Mr.  Breneman  thought  that  the  congregation  would 
likely  go  with  the  church  property,  because  they  w^ould  hardly  be  able  to 
build  another  new^  church  at  this  time.  In  this  he  w^as  mistaken.  While  Rev. 
Gingerich  bought  the  lot  and  the  church,  the  congregation  worshiping  there 
refused  to  enter  into  the  deal,  as  w^as  to  be  expected.  While  the  Church  of 
God  never  received  any  money  from  the  sale  of  this  property,  the  congrega- 
tion heroically  built  another  new  Bethel  on  South  Main  Street  during  the  same 
year,  which  it  still  occupies. 

This  property  was  bought  for  $700  in  behalf  of  the  follow^ing  trustete 
and  their  successors  in  office  for  the  Church  of  the  United  Brethren  in  Christ: 
Rev.  David  Gingerich,  Rev.  George  Reider  and  Samuel  Geyer.  The  date  of 
the  deed  is  May  28,  1853.  The  church  was  re-dedicated  June  12,  1853.  The 
church  for  years  belonged  to  the  following  circuits  :  Mountville  Circuit,  Mount 
Joy  Circuit  and  Spring  Garden  Circuit,  w^hose  pastors  served  this  church  w^ith 
various  degrees  of  success.  In  1877  it  w^as  a  mission  station  w^ith  Rev.  J.  W. 
Taylor  as  the  pastor.  When  the  writer  became  pastor  of  the  charge  in  1879, 
at  the  first  quarterly  conference  the  brethren  desired  to  abandon  Elizabeth- 
town,  as  the  membership  w^as  very  small  and  the  support  guaranteed  from 
this  point  was  hardly  sufficiently  large  to  pay  a  preacher's  car-fare  to  and 
from  the  place  in  filling  the  appointments.  The  old  church  was  also  very 
much  in  need  of  repairs.     In  response  to  the  writer's  suggestion  they  decided 


128  LANDMARK    HISTORY    OF    THE 

to  hold  on  to  it  another  year.  Faithful  pastoral  work  at  this  point  and  the 
reorganization  of  a  Sunday  School  marked  the  beginning  of  the  turning  of  the 
tide  toward  success.  This  was  the  only  appointment  on  the  charge  in  his 
three  year's  service  w^here  a  marked  degree  of  success  attended  his  labors, 
thus  illustrating  the  truth  of  the  saying  that  "  Man's  extremity  is  God's  oppcr- 
tunity."  In  1882,  under  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  J.  L.  Nicholas,  the  church  was 
enovated  and  repaired  at  a  cost  of  about  $700.  The  money  for  this  pur- 
pose w^as  collected  chiefly  by  William  Baney. 

In  I  903  Elizabethtown  was  detached  from  Florin  Circuit  and  constituted 
a  station,  and  Rev.  H.  M.  Miller,  who  had  served  Florin  Circuit  since  1  899,  was 
assigned  to  the  newly  formed  station.  On  Angust  1,  1901,  Brother  Miller 
started  out  to  solicit  subscriptions  with  a  view  of  building  a  new  church,  and 
at  a  quarterly  conference  held  in  1 902,  the  encouragement  received  war- 
ranted that  body  to  decide  definitely  to  build.  Brother  Miller  was  also  au- 
thorized to  continue  to  solicit  funds  for  this  purpose. 

The  corner-stone  of  the  new  church  was  laid  May  10,  1903,  by  Rev.  H. 
M.  Miller,  assisted  by  Rev.  D.  D.  Lowery,  D.D.,  presiding  elder  of  the  con- 
ference, and  Rev.  J.  B.  Funk.  The  completed  church  was  dedicated  to  the 
triune  God  on  Sunday,  December  20,  1903,  by  Rev.  W.  M.  Bell,  D.D.,  Gen- 
eral Home  Missionary  Secretary,  assisted  by  the  pastor.  The  weather  was 
very  inclement ;  rain  had  fallen  and  the  streets  were  very  icy,  making  it  dan- 
gerous to  travel  on  foot.  The  church  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  $  1  1 ,600,  and 
a  considerable  portion  of  this  amount  had  yet  to  be  secured  to  meet  all  the 
bills.  Disappointments  and  discouragement  greeted  them  on  the  morning  of 
that  memorable  day  as  they  looked  upon  the  slippery  pavements  and  streets 
over  which  they  had  to  travel  to  the  services.  But  the  people  came  out  re- 
markably^ well  under  the  circumstances,  and  at  all  the  services  of  the  day 
$3,200  were  secured  for  the  church.  Their  gloom  was  turned  to  joy  at  these 
results. 

The  building  is  a  modern  brick  structure  with  two  towers  in  front,  one 
12x12  feet  and  the  other  10x10  feet  in  size,  and  has  a  main  auditorium 
45  X  46  feet,  a  Sunday  School  room  32  x  42  feet  and  a  class  room  I  5  x  30  feet 
in  size.  It  is  furnished  with  steam  heat  and  electric  light.  The  board  of 
trustees  and  the  building  committee   consisted  of  the   following  brethren  :  D. 

B.  Shirk,  G.  R.  Kersey,  J.  H.  Stern,  David  Myers  and  B.  H.  Geyer,  who  with 
Annie  Seiders,  Simon  Myers,  H.  H.  Stern  and  Samuel  Barnes  also  were  the 
most  liberal  contributors  toward  this  enterprise.  Rev.  H.  M.  Miller  served  this 
church  eight  years  with  great  fidelity  and  success.     He  was  followed  by  Rev. 

C.  W.  Miller  from  October,  1907,  to  October,  1909,  under  whom  the  parsonage 
adjoining  the  church  was  bought  during  the  spring  of  1909  for  $3,100.  Rev. 
S.  S.  Daugherty  was  appointed  to  this  church  at  the  conference  of  1909,  who  is 
succeeding  very  well. 


UNITED    BRETHREN    CHURCH  129 


LANCASTER     COVENANT    CHURCH 

Lancaster,  Pa.,  is  the  city  of  Mr.  Otterbein's  first  pastorate  in  America, 
located  only  a  few  miles  from  the  spiritual  birthplace  of  the  church.  It  is 
natural  to  expect  that  our  church  fathers  would  early  strive  to  organize  a 
society  at  this  strategic  point.  In  this  county  seat  Mr.  Newcomer,  who  had  a 
sister  living  here,  and  whom  he  often  visited,  preached  as  early  as  August  15, 

1813,  from   Luke  xviii :  29,  30,  at  Mr.  Miller's  ;  and  again   on  November  1  3 

1814,  from  Matt,  xv:  25,  and  a  number  of  times  afterward.  He  thus  paved 
the  way  for  the  fathers  to  plant  our  church  in  this  city  at  an  early  day,  and 
make  it  a  strong  center  for  future  operations.  But  for  years  they  deliberately 
neglected  their  opportunity.  The  apostles  of  our  Lord  acted  more  wisely  in 
pushing  for  the  evangelism  of  the  cities.  Hence  Jerusalem,  Antioch,  Ephe- 
sus,  Corinth,  Philippi  and  other  cities  early  became  centers  of  religious  activ- 
ity and  usefulness.  The  Lord  had  commanded  his  disciples  to  begin  at  the 
metropolis.  The  same  command  applies  to  his  followers  for  all  time.  The 
city  is  and  always  has  been  the  Gibraltar  of  civilization,  the  great  center  of 
influence  for  good  or  evil,  and  the  church  has  for  some  years  past  been  recog- 
nizing this  fact  and  has  been  planning  and  w^orking  accordingly,  but  only 
after  paying  a  high  price  for  its  education. 

The  annual  conference  sent  Rev.  Wm.  Brow^n  to  Lancaster  Station  in  1  834 
and  1835,  and  Rev.  D.  Strickler  in  1836,  both  of  whom  preached  in  a  "little 
w^hite  church,"  located  on  Chestnut  street  between  Queen  and  Duke  streets. 
After  this  no  pastor  was  sent  to  this  city  for  several  years,  but  about  the  year 
1  848  or  1  849  the  brethren  again  commenced  to  preach  regularly  in  the  same 
church.  After  a  few  years  some  difficulty  arose  and  the  appointment  w^as 
abandoned.  Soon  after  this  Rev.  John  Winebrenner  commenced  to  preach  in 
this  church,  and  vv^hen  the  congregation  outgrew  the  building,  it  abandoned 
the  little  church  and  erected  a  new  church  on  another  site.  Some  of  the 
worshipers  refused  to  go  to  the  new  Bethel,  and  these  continued  to  hold 
meetings  in  the  old  place.  Now  this  small  society  became  the  nucleus  of  an 
organized  United  Brethren  congregation.  Rev.  W.  S.  H.  Keys  became  the 
pastor  of  this  flock  in  1854,  who  was  followed  by  Rev.  J.  Q.  Adams  in  1855, 
and  he  prevailed  upon  "  the  seven  brethren  who  now  owned  the  building  " 
to  transfer  the  property  to  a  board  of  trustees  of  the  United  Brethren  Church. 
Rev.  J.  S.  Kessler  served  as  the  pastor  during  1856  and  1857.  Rev.  L.  Peters 
served  Lancaster  Mission  in  1858,  1859  and  I860.  At  the  annual  conference 
of  1  860  the  following  resolution  was  passed  :  "  That  Lancaster  Mission  be  re- 
ferred to  the  stationing  committee  to  be  supplied  or  not  as  it  may  deem 
proper. "  The  mission  was  left  without  a  pastor,  the  city  vv^as  abandoned  by 
the  church  for  a  time,  and  the  property  w^as  sold  to  pay  debts.  Another  class 
was  started  a  little  later  near  the  corner  of  Mulberry  and  Vine  Streets,  but  this 
did  not  live  long.  Later  still  another  congregation  w^as  organized  and  a  small 
chapel  built  on  the  corner  of  Mulberry   and    Grant  Streets.     In  1 865  this  ap- 


130  LANDMARK     HISTORYOFTHE 

pointment  was  attached  to  Mountville  Circuit,  and  Aaron  W.  Ranck  was  ap- 
pointed pastor  by  the  presiding  elder.  This  church  was  sold  to  the  Evangeli- 
cal Association  about  the  year  1867,  who  in  turn  sold  it  to  the  German 
Baptist  Brethren,  and  now  the  site  is  occupied  by  a  private  dwelling. 

The  position  of  the  church  on  secret  societies,  and  internal  strife 
among  the  members  were  assigned  at  the  time  as  the  chief  reasons  for  our 
failures  in  this  city.  These  conditions,  no  doubt,  were  at  the  bottom  of  the 
trouble.  And  by  this  time,  if  not  before,  many  of  the  church  leaders  began  to 
think  and  to  express  themselves  too,  that  our  denomination  was  distinctly  a 
rural  church,  and  was  not  adapted  to  work  successfully  in  the  cities.  They 
would  point  to  our  failures  in  Lancaster,  Harrisburg,  Philadelphia,  and  in 
other  cities,  in  proof  of  their  assertions.  The  truthfulness  of  their  statements 
at  least  in  part  could  not  be  gainsaid,  and  our  faithful  pastors  preached  and 
worked  for  years  in  the  country  and  smaller  towns,  with  good  results  too,  but 
they  did  very  little  toward  obeying  the  specific  and  positive  command  of  our 
Lord  to  preach  the  gospel  "  among  all  nations,  beginning  at  Jerusalem,  the  city." 
We  have  been  guilty  of  reversing  the  process  of  the  Lord's  ordering,  to  our 
disadvantage  and  to  the  hurt  of  many  souls  whom  we  might  have  saved  in 
these  centers  of  population.  Of  course,  the  people  living  in  the  country  dis- 
tricts needed  salvation  too,  and  our  church  was  and  still  is  a  mighty  saving 
agency  among  them.  But  our  splendid  success  in  evangelism  and  in  the 
building  of  suitable  churches  in  the  numerous  cities  into  which  we  have  been 
pushing,  especially  during  the  last  several  decades,  prove  that  we  can  work  as 
successfully  there  in  winning  souls  to  Christ  as  any  other  denomination. 

There  was  nothing  done  to  plant  our  church  in  Lancaster,  except  to  talk 
about  it,  until  the  year  1882,  when  the  annual  conference  in  session  at  Harris- 
burg adopted  the  following  resolution :  "  That  Lancaster  city  as  a  home  mis- 
sion field  for  our  church  offers  splendid  opportunities,  and  should  be  occu- 
pied immediately."  It  also  appointed  Rev.  J.  B.  Funk,  of  New  Holland,  and 
Rev.  M.  J.  Mumma,  of  Mountville,  a  committee  to  look  over  the  field,  and  also 
voted  $500  towards  the  beginning  of  operations  in  this  city. 

As  a  result  of  this  effort  a  quarterly  conference  was  called  March  20, 
1882,  at  S.  R.  Grabill's  house,  56  South  Duke  Street,  where  the  following 
brethren  were  elected  as  members  of  a  board  of  trustees :  Amos  Hershey,  of 
Gordonville ;  J.  B.  Stehman,  of  Mountville  ;  S.  N.  Eby,  of  Mount  Joy ;  Levi  S. 
Reist,  of  Oregon ;  and  S.  R.  Grabill,  of  Lancaster.  This  board  was  instructed 
to  secure  a  location  for  a  church,  to  purchase  a  building,  or  a  lot  upon  which 
to  build  a  church,  as  they  deemed  best.  These  brethren  tried  to  follow  their 
instructions.  They  were  told  to  buy  the  Salem  church  property  on  West 
Orange  Street  if  it  should  be  offered  for  sale  at  a  reasonable  price.  The  out- 
look at  this  time  was  not  very  bright,  as  the  way  seemed  to  be  hedged  up. 
At  this  time  Rev.  L.  Peters  moved  into  the  city,  at  I  35  East  King  Street,  who 
agitated  the  importance  of  decided  action  at  once  in  the  interest  of  a  church. 
Another  quarterly  conference  was  held  at  his  house  June  6,  1883.  This  body 
of   men    looked   at   a   lot   on   Lime   Street  beyond    Frederick.     The  brethren 


UNITED    BRETHREN    CHURCH  131 

thought  it  would  be  a  suitable  location  for  a  church,  and  forthwith  started  sub- 
scriptions with  a  view  of  making  the  purchase  and  of  building  a  chapel.  Rev. 
L.  Peters  was  appointed  pastor  in  charge  and  was  authorized  to  take  care  of 
the  subscriptions  and  collection  of  funds  for  the  project.  Nothing  substantial 
resulted  from  these  official  acts.  The  next  and  final  effort  was  made  by  S.  R. 
Grabill,  secretary  of  the  board  of  trustees.  This  was  business-like  in  its 
nature,  coming  from  a  business  man,  and  was  put  in  the  form  of  a  decisive 
proposition.  He  addressed  the  following  letter  to  every  member  of  the  East 
Pennsylvania  and  Pennsylvania  Conferences  : 

Lancaster,  Pa.,  February  13,  1884. 
Dear  Brother: 

For  a  number  of  years  an  effort  has  been  made  by  friends  and  members  of  the  United 
Brethren  Church  to  establish  a  congregation  in  this  city,  near  where  the  United  Brethren  Church 
was  born.  It  is  a  standing  shame,  if  not  a  sin,  that  there  has  not  been  a  church  home  provided 
for  our  people  who  have  moved  here,  and  are  constantly  moving  here,  from  adjoining  charges. 
Of  course  some  such  find  church  relations  among  other  denominations,  but  the  majority  do  not 
and  as  a  consequence  are  not  only  lost  to  the  church  but  also  to  the  blessed  Master.  Is  this 
right  ?      Is  it  as  it  should  be? 

The  annual  conference  at  Harrisburg,  1882,  made  conditional  provision  to  commence  work 
at  this  place  ;  accordingly  a  quarterly  conference  was  called  and  A.  Hershey,  of  Gordonville » 
S.  N.  Eby,  of  Mount  Joy;  Levi  S.  Reist,  of  Oregon  ;  J.  B.  Stehman,  of  Mountville ;  and  S.  R* 
Grabill,  of  Lancaster,  were  elected  as  a  board  of  trustees,  with  instructions  to  locate  and  build 
or  purchase  a  church  building  as  they  see  proper.  The  matter  has  been  in  this  shape  for  two 
years  and  now  an  opportunity  is  presented  in  a  good,  rather  central,  desirable,  fast  improving 
part  of  the  city.  But  in  order  to  go  ahead  it  will  require  help  from  abroad.  This  work,  than 
which  there  is  none  more  important  in  the  conference,  will  not,  cannot  succeed,  unless  every 
charge  in  the  entire  conference  feels  an  interest  and  considers  itself  a  part  of  this  work,  which 
not  only  will  be  the  means  of  leading  the  lost  and  erring  to  Christ,  but  become  instrumental  in 
saving  those  who  are  lost  to  the  church  and  often  lost  to  Jesus. 

At  the  coming  conference  in  York,  Pa.,  the  Lancaster  church  interest  will  probably  be 
presented  for  definite  and  final  decision.  If  a  systematic  plan  be  proposed  for  securing  a  fund 
for  this  work,  will  you,  if   you   can,  consistent   with   your    judgment,  give    it    your    thoughtful, 

prayerful  support? 

(Signed)  A.  HERSHEY,  President. 
(Signed)  S.  R.  GRABILL,  Secretary. 

The  annual  joint  session  of  the  conferences  w^as  held  in  York,  Pa.,  Feb- 
ruary 27  to  March  3,  1884,  being  thoroughly  prepared  in  lieu  of  the  above 
letter  to  act,  which,  after  some  historical  prelude,  it  passed  the  following 
paper  : 

In  order  to  accomplish  this  (the  establishment  of  a  church)  effectually  and  secure  a 
financial  basis  against  the  failure  we  wrould  recommend  the   following: 

1st.  That  the  stationing  committee  supply  Lancaster  with  a  competent  missionary  and 
provide  a  liberal  apportionment  for  his  support. 

2d.  That  the  commission  to  supervise  missionary  w^ork  pay  special  attention  to  this  mis- 
sion, co-operating  with  the  board  of  trustees  in  Lancaster  and  rendering  them  all  possible 
assistance. 

3d.  That  the  ministers  and  lay  delegates  of  this  conference  hereby  covenant  to  prosecute 
this  work  to  a  successful  termination,  and  kindly  receive  and  help  forw^ard  any  person  properly 
authorized  to  solicit  funds  for  the  successful  prosecution  of  this  w^ork. 


132 


LANDMARK    HISTORY    OF    THE 


The  recommendations  of  this  report  were  provided  for  at  this  conference. 
An  appropriation  of  $500  was  voted  to  support  this  project,  a  strong  preacher 
in  Rev.  M.  J.  Mumma  was  appointed  to  manage  the  forces,  and  the  confer- 
ence territory  in  which  to  solicit  was  opened.  The  new  year  opened  hope- 
fully. Rev.  1.  Baltzell,  presiding 
elder,  held  the  first  quarterly  con- 
ference March  I  7,  I  884,  the  main 
object  being  the  planting  of  the 
church.  The  purchase  of  the  Salem 
church  property  was  discussed 
again  and  the  decision  w^as  reached 
to  buy  it.  In  view^  of  this  decision 
the  board  of  trustees  proceeded 
through  a  committee  to  make  the 
purchase  by  paying  $3,950  for  it 
and  the  securing  of  a  clear  title. 
The  church  property  was  worth  at 
least  $7,000.  Having  secured  a 
clear  tide  S.  R.  GrabiU  paid  $450 
purchase  money,  and  a  mortgage 
of  $3,500  was  given,  the  members 
of  the  trustee  board  making  them- 
selves personally  responsible  for 
its  validity.  The  church  that  they 
bought  is  located  on  West  Orange 
Street  and  had  been  built  under  the 
auspices  of  the  Church  of  God 
in  1877.  It  is  a  tw^o-storied  brick 
A  church   building   now  having  been   secured, 


Covenant  Church 


building  in  good  condition 

the  next  w^ork  v^as  to  gather  a  congregation. 

A  meeting  for  the  organization  of  a  class  was  called  April  4,  1  884,  by 
Rev.  M.  J.  Mumma,  pastor,  at  the  home  of  S.  R.  Grabill.  The  following  per- 
sons were  enrolled  as  charter  members:  S.  R.  Grabill,  Eliza  C.  Grabill,  D.  G. 
Good,  Mrs.  D.  G.  Good,  Maud  Keen,  Minnie  Peters,  Rev.  L.  Peters,  H.  H. 
Keen,  George  Eckert,  and  Julia  Eckert.  With  these  ten  persons  began  a 
congregation  that  now  numbers  nearly  seven  hundred  members. 

Much  of  the  time  of  Rev.  M.  J.  Mumma's  pastorate,  and  of  the  first  year 
of  Rev.  J.  B.  Funk's  was  spent  in  the  field  gathering  in  money  to  pay  the  debt, 
and  with  good  success.  The  latter  secured  about  $2,000  in  one  year  to  make 
it  possible  to  dedicate  the  church,  w^hich  w^as  done  on  Sunday,  February  6, 
1887,  by  Bishop  J.  Weaver,  D.D. 

The  name  "Covenant  "  for  the  church  w^as  adopted  because  the  founders 
of  the  denomination  covenated  together  near  this  city  to  build  up  a  spiritual 
organization,  and  because  the  trustees  of  the  church  and  the  annual  confer- 
ence covenated  together  to  make  this  church  a  success  in  Lancaster. 


UNITED     BRETHREN     CHURCH  133 

A  Sunday  School  Association  was  organized  April  4,  1  884,  the  date  of 
the  organization  of  the  church.  The  following  were  elected  officers  :  Super- 
intendent, S.  R.  Grabill ;  Assistant  Superintendent,  H.  H.  Keen  ;  Secretary,  D. 
A.  Peters  ;  Treasurer,  D.  G.  Good ;  Primary  Superintendent,  Mrs.  S.  R.  Gra- 
bill. The  first  session  of  the  school  was  attended  by  seven  children  and 
tw^enty-one  adults,  a  total  of  twenty-eight.  There  w^ere  three  persons  in  the 
Primary  Department.  The  first  year  closed  w^ith  an  enrollment  of  87  ;  the 
second  year,  117;  the  third,  157;  the  fourth,  187,  with  60  in  the  Primary 
Department.  In  1 903  an  annex  w^as  built  to  the  church,  with  proper  parti- 
tions as  now  arranged.  The  present  enrollment  of  the  school  is  545,  and  S. 
R.  Grabill  served  as  its  efficient  superintendent  during  the  first  twenty-five 
years  of  its  history.  The  present  superintendent  is  E.  W.  Coble.  The  con- 
gregation and  Sunday  School  are  noted  for  their  liberality  to  the  cause  of  mis- 
sions, being  far  in  advance  of  many  others  of  greater  financial  strength.  They 
support  an  associate  pastor  in  the  foreign  field  and  do  aggressive  work  along 
all  lines  of  Christian  activity. 

Rev.  I.  Moyer  Hershey,  the  present  pastor  of  the  church,  writes,  "  It  re- 
quired nine  years  to  get  this  church  on  a  self-sustaining  basis  at  a  net  cost  to 
the  annual  conference  of  $2,439.75.  During  this  interim  the  local  church 
raised  for  all  purposes,  $8,622.88.  During  the  twenty-five  years  of  her  history 
she  has  raised  for  all  purposes,  including  purchase  of  parsonage,  sextonage, 
building  of  annex  and  other  improvements  as  w^ell  as  $1,700  toward  the  pur- 
chase of  Otterbein  church  property,  $59,690.  Of  this  amount  $13,000  was 
contributed  to  the  cause  of  Foreign  Missions.  The  wisdom  of  planting  a 
church  in  Lancaster  is  plainly  attested  by  w^hat  it  has  done  and  is  still  doing 
for  the  cause  of  Christ.  It  has  enjoyed  many  and  continuous  revivals  in  w^hich 
very  many  souls  were  w^on  to  Christ,  and  a  deep  spirituality  seems  to  prevade 
every  department  of  her  numerous  activities.  The  following  persons  were 
raised  up  to  the  work  of  the  ministry :  W.  F.  Buck,  I.  N.  Seldomridge,  J.  W. 
Sprecher,  John  F.  Musselman  and  J.  R.  McDonald.  Miss  Ella  Ruhl,  an  ex- 
cellent and  consecrated  lady,  is  giving  her  life  for  China.  Among  the  sainted 
dead  is  Miss  Beulah  Funk.  She  was  a  member  of  this  church  for  many  years, 
but  gave  up  her  life  for  the  sake  of  the  Chinese. 

From  April  5  to  11,  1 909,  the  church  enjoyed  its  quarto  centennial  an- 
niversary w^ith  appropriate  services.  The  following  is  a  list  of  the  pastors 
w^ho  served  Covenant  Church:  Revs.  M.  J.  Mumma,  1884-85-86;  J.  B.  Funk, 
1887-88-89;  E.  L.  Hughes,  from  February,  1889,  to  October,  1889;  C.  W. 
Hutzler,  1889-90-91-92-93  ;  E.  A.  G.  Bossier,  1893  to  1907  ;  A.  R.  Myers,  from 
October,  1907,  to  May,  1908,  who  died  here;  C.  E.  Pilgrim,  from  May.  1908, 
to  October,   1908;  I.  Moyer  Hershey,    1908-09— 

Otterbein  Mission  w^as  founded  by  the  Covenant  Church.  The  first  steps 
to  consider  the  advisability  of  opening  a  mission  w^ere  taken  at  a  quartery 
conference,  held  October  14,  1901,  by  appointing  a  committee  on  location. 
After  a  number  of  reports  on  various  places,  the  northern  end  of  the  city  w^as 
selected  as  favorable  by  a  vote  of  the  Covenant  quarterly  conference,  July  28, 


134  LANDMARK     HISTORY     OF    THE 

1902.  A  house  was  rented  at  820  North  Queen  Street  in  which  to  begin  work. 
A  Sunday  School  was  organized  Ssptember  6,  1902,  with  an  enrollment  of 
thirty  persons,  J.  B.  Withers  being  elected  superintendent.  The  property  on 
the  southeast  corner  North  Queen  and  Clay  Streets  was  bought  toward  the 
close  of  the  year  1903  for  $3,042,  and  the  school  was  moved  to  that  place 
April  1,  1904.  In  a  special  effort  at  Covenant  church  $1,700  was  subscribed 
toward  the  payment  of  the  newly  bought  property.  On  October  4,  1904, 
Rev.  J.  B.  Funk  was  appointed  pastor,  who  at  once  entered  vigorously  upon 
the  work  in  soliciting  money  and  in  an  evangelistic  campaign.  On  November 
27,  1904,  Rev.  E.  A.  G.  Bossier,  pastor  of  the  Covenant  church,  organized  the 
church  w^ith  twenty-six  charter  members.  In  the  evening  of  the  same  day. 
Rev.  J.  B.  Funk  received  forty-two  persons  into  church  fellowship.  The  first 
year's  pastorate  closed  with  a  membership  of  eighty-eight,  and  a  Sunday- 
school  enrollment  of  one  hundred  and   seventy,  October  5,   1905. 

During  the  year  a  chapel  w^as  built  upon  the  lot  at  a  cost  of  $3,721.  It 
was  dedicated  to  God  on  Sunday,  November  26,  1905,  by  Presiding  Elder  D. 
D.  Lowery,  D.D.,  assisted  by  Revs.  E.  A.  G.  Bossier  and  J.  B.  Funk.  At  the 
annual  conference  of  1  906  Otterbein  church  was  constituted  a  separate  charge, 
and  Rev.  A.  G.  Nye  was  appointed  as  the  pastor,  who  has  been  serving  it  ever 
since  with  great  acceptability,  building  up  the  charge  along  material  and 
spiritual  lines  w^ith  remarkable  success. 

NEW     HOLLAND    CHURCH 

This  tovv^n,  first  know^n  as  Earltown,  later  as  New  Design,  and  before  the 
time  of  the  Revolutionary  war  as  New  Holland,  dates  its  beginning  to  the 
year  1  728.  It  is  located  on  the  Lancaster  and  Downingtown  Railroad  and  on 
the  New  Holland  Turnpike,  thirteen  miles  east  of  Lancaster.  The  first  preach- 
ing by  the  preachers  of  our  church  in  this  town  w^as  done  by  Rev.  Christian 
Newcomer  on  Sunday,  May  15,  1803,  from  II  Peter  5:15.  This  service  was 
held  in  an  old  log  school  house  that  had  been  built  by  the  commuuity  for 
school  and  church  purposes,  and  was  located  on  the  Hinkletown  road  imme- 
diately at  the  rear  of  w^here  Putter's  store  building  stands.  He  says  in  his 
Journal,  "  The  people  praised  the  Lord  and  shouted  as  loud  as  they  could.  I 
lodged  with  Mr.  Davis." 

Yes,  they  used  to  praise  the  Lord  and  shout  a  great  deal  years  ago.  It  is 
a  little  out  of  fashion  to  do  so  now^.  Some  do  not  believe  in  it.  Do  you 
believe  the  Bible  ?  Have  you  searched  the  Scriptures  on  this  subject  ?  There 
w^as  shouting  when  the  w^orld  was  created,  when  the  Psalms  w^ere  w^ritten  and 
sung,  when  Christ  w^as  born  in  Bethlehem,  and  all  along  the  line  of  march 
from  Pentecost  till  now.  There  has  been  shouting  on  the  rack,  in  prison,  at 
the  stake,  on  death  beds,  and  there  w^ill  be  shouting  when  "  the  Lord  himself 
shall  descend  from  heaven  with  a  shout,  and  with  the  voice  of  archangels, 
and  with  the  trump  of  God."     "Cry  out  and  shout,  thou  inhabitant  of  Zion : 


UNITED    BRETHREN    CHURCH 


135 


Levi  Hoover 


for  great  is  the  Holy  One  of  Israel  in  the  midst  of    thee,  "  is  the   command   of 
God  to  us.     You  may  shout  if  you  shine. 

Mr.  Newcomer  preached  in  this  town  a  number  of  times,  and  in  the  com- 
munity around  it  quite  frequently.  Others  of  our  brethren  also  preached  here 
occasionally.  A  regular  appointment  w^as  taken  up  by  the  brethren  who 
preached  at  Ranck's  church,  at  the  Western  School  House, 
located  one  mile  west  of  town,  in  1858.  Rev.  Samuel 
Seiders  organized  a  class  here  during  that  year  out  of 
members  of  Ranck's  church  who  had  moved  into  town, 
and  out  of  two  other  small  societies,  the  one  holding  serv- 
ices at  the  home  of  Mary  Good,  and  the  other  in  a  private 
house  on  Turkey  Hill,  near  Mt.  Tabor.  Lewis  Peters  vv^as 
elected  the  first  leader  of  the  class.  This  brother  began 
his  Christian  career  on  this  charge,  having  been  converted 
at  Ranck's  church,  and  ended  his  long  and  fruitful  minis- 
terial life  while  pastor  of  New  Holland  Charge,  dying  in 
the  parsonage  in  1893.  He  filled  some  of  the  most  im- 
portant and  promising  appointments  of  the  conference.  He  served  seven 
years  as  presiding  elder,  and  twice  he  represented  his  conference  in  the  gen- 
eral conference.  He  was  a  self-made  man  in  every  respect,  vv^as  a  recognized 
leader  in  the  conference  for  years,  w^as  an  earnest,  active,  persevering  and 
conscientious  laborer  in   the   Lord's  vineyard,  winning  many  souls  to  Christ. 

Levi  Hoover  was  the  next  class  leader.  This  brother  is  one  of  the 
charter  members  of  this  church.  He  was  also  a  charter  member  of  our 
church  in  Ephrata,  and  in  Russell,  Kan.,  where  he  lived  several  years.  He  is 
related  to  the  Hubers  of  the  Rocky  Spring  and  Chambersburg  neighborhood. 
The  original  Hubers  on  coming  to  this  country  settled  on  a  large  tract  of  land 
a  short  distance  west  of  New  Holland,  and  some  of  them  moved  to  Franklin 
County,  near  Chambersburg,  over  a  century  ago.  Brother  Hoover  is  still  living 
and  is  quite  active  in  the  work  of  the  church  and  is  eighty-seven  years  of  age. 
He  scarcely  ever  misses  a  service  at  his  church  home. 

During  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  Jacob  Brewer,  in  1 859,  quite  a  successful 
revival  was  held  in  the  Town  Hall  of  New  Holland,  located  on  the  northeast 
corner  of  the  turnpike  and  the  old  Hinkletown  road,  in  which  many  persons 
were  won  to  Christ  and  brought  into  the  church,  and  this  work  of  grace  gave 
promise  of  permanency  to  the  society.  In  the  Spring  of  I  860  steps  were  taken 
toward  the  building  of  a  church  in  town.  At  a  quarterly  conference  the  fol- 
lowing brethren  were  constituted  a  board  of  trustees:  John  Ranck,  Samuel 
Bachman  and  Levi  Hoover.  Funds  were  solicited  at  once  and  the  lot  upon 
which  the  present  church  stands  was  bought  of  Cyrus  Mentzer  for  $300.  A 
plain  brick  church  was  started,  30  x  45  feet  in  size,  and  pushed  to  completion 
as  rapidly  as  possible.  The  services  incident  to  the  corner-stone  laying  were 
held  in  Simon  Mentzer's  barn,  connected  with  the  farm  upon  which  M.  L. 
Groff  now  lives.  On  Sunday,  September  9,  1  860,  the  church  was  dedicated 
to  God  by  Rev.  J.  C.  Smith,  assisted  by  Rev.  Z.  A.  Colestock,  and  the  pastor, 


136  LANDMARK    HISTORY    OF    THE 

Rev.  Jacob  Brewer.  During  the  winter  of  1872-73,  under  the  pastorate  of 
Rev.  M.  J.  Mumma,  the  church  w^as  repainted,  recarpeted,  and  a  new  ahar 
rail  w^as  placed  in  it,  all  at  a  cost  of  $52  1 .63.  The  pastors  of  this  church  w^ere 
the  same  as  those  w^ho  served  at  Ranck's  church. 

Many  precious  services  w^ere  held  in  this  old  church,  resulting  in  the  con- 
version of  many  souls.  But  the  needs  of  the  growing  congregation  demanded 
a  larger  and  a  better  church.  Early  in  the  year  1  900,  under  the  pastorate  of 
Rev.  J.  G.  Smoker,  the  church  w^as  practically  rebuilt  and  an  addition  of 
22  X  39  feet  was  built  at  the  southern  end  of  the  building.  This  addition  in- 
creased the  sitting  capacity  of  the  building  to  about  600.  A  tov/er  entrance 
w^as  built  on  the  northwest  corner,  upon  w^hich  a  clear-sounding  McShane  bell 
was  placed,  w^hich  was  bought  from  the  trustees  of  our  old  church  in  Man- 
heim.  The  erection  of  this  church  required  heroic  and  self-sacrificing  effort 
upon  the  part  of  the  pastor  and  people,  as  the  membership  w^as  small  in 
numbers  and  poor.  The  building  committee,  w^ho  pushed  the  w^ork  to  its 
successful  completion,  consisted  of  Rev.  J.  G.  Smoker,  Levi  Hoover  and  R. 
H.  Wright.  The  lecture  room  of  the  church  w^as  opened  for  divine  services 
by  the  pastor  on  Sunday,  August  12,  1900,  and  the  completed  church  was 
dedicated  to  the  triune  God  on  Sunday,  October  21,  1900,  by  Bishop  E.  B. 
Kephart,  D.D.,  LL.D.,  assisted  by  Revs.  J.  S.  Pitman,  Z.  A.  Weidler  and  the 
pastor,  Rev.  J.  G.  Smoker.  The  cost  of  the  church  was  $3,000,  all  of  which 
vs^as  provided  for  on  the  day  of  dedication.  The  small  sum  of  $200  was 
borrowed  from  the  General  Church  Erection  Society  for  a  short  time  only, 
when  it  was  paid  back. 

A  house  for  the  parsonage  was  bought  from  George  Harkey  in  1863.  It 
was  a  small  one-storied  brick  structure  and  stood  where  the  present  parsonage 
stands.  In  1  864  a  half  story  was  built  upon  it,  and  the  property  was  other- 
wise improved.  The  present  parsonage  was  built  in  1  890  under  the  pastorate 
of  Rev.  J.  R.  Meredith. 

The  Sunday-school  was  organized  in  1861,  with  Levi  Hoover  as  the  first 
superintendent,  who  served  in  this  capacity  for  a  period  of  twenty  years. 
Rev.  I.  M.  Groff  and  A.  H.  Bear  also  served  as  superintendents  of  the  school 
for  many  years.  The  present  incumbent  is  W.  W.  Stauffer.  An  organ  w^as 
bought  for  the  school  in  1  887  for  $1  35.  Two  other  organs  have  been  bought 
since  then,  all  of  which  are  in  use  in  the  various  departments  of  service. 

In  the  spring  of  1879  one  acre  and  twenty-four  perches  of  land  was 
bought  at  the  rear  of  the  church  from  Solomon  Diller  for  $525.  This  land  is 
being  used  for  burial  purposes.  In  the  spring  of  1  908  an  additional  plot  of 
ground,  located  west  of  the  church  and  adjoining  it,  was  bought  from  J.  Frank 
Brubaker  for  $500,  which  provides  room  for  the  further  expansion  of  the 
church  w^ork  as  may  be  necessary. 

During  the  week  of  June  5-12,  1910,  the  church  celebrated  its  semi-cen- 
tennial anniversary  with  appropriate  services.  The  following  ministers,  all  of 
them  former  pastors  of  the  church,  preached  with  great  acceptability :  Revs. 
J.  B.  Funk,  C.  A.  Mutch,  E.  L.  Hughes,  Z.  A.  Weidler,   S.   C.   Enck,   D.D.,   and 


UNITED     BRETHREN     CHURCH  137 

T.  Garland.  A.  H.  Bear,  who  was  superintendent  of  the  Sunday-school  for 
many  years,  delivered  an  address  on  "The  History  of  the  Sunday-school.  " 
Levi  Hoover,  the  only  living  charter  member  of  the  local  church,  spoke  on 
"  Reminiscences  of  Fifty  Years."  These  services  throughout  v^ere  inspirational 
in  their  character  and  w^ill  long  be  remembered  by  all  w^ho  attended  them. 

COLUMBIA    CHURCH 

The  history  of  our  denomination  in  Columbia  covers  a  period  of  more 
than  sixty  years.  In  1 846  several  United  Brethren  families  moved  into  this 
town,  those  of  Christian  Hershey  and  Solomon  VonNieda.  For  a  time  they 
attended  services  in  our  church  in  Mountville,  and  in  the  sister  churches  in 
Columbia.  Other  brethren  and  sisters  gradually  commenced  to  move  into 
the  town,  and  these  together  formed  the  nucleus  for  a  church.  They  w^ere 
visited  at  different  times  by  local  itinerating  preachers  and  pastors  from 
neighboring  charges,  w^ho  preached  in  private  houses  to  such  as  w^ould 
attend.  In  I  848-5  I  the  services  w^ere  held  in  the  house  of  Christian  Hershey. 
In  1852-53  Rev.  P.  J.  Riland  and  Rev.  C.  G.  Geist  preached  here  regularly, 
alternating  every  two  weeks.  Revs.  John  Fohl,  J.  W.  Bonewell  and  D.  O.  Far- 
rell  preached  here  in  1854-55;  D.  Strickler  and  Jacob  Brewer  in  1856-57, 
chiefly  in  the  homes  of  Christian  Hershey  and  David  Wayne.  Under  the 
faithful  labors  of  the  last  two  preachers  the  first  United  Brethren  class  was 
organized  in  this  town,  w^ith  the  following  as  its  charter  members :  Christian 
Hershey,  leader ;  D.  C.  Wayne,  steward ;  Elizabeth  Hershey,  Sarah  Wayne, 
Catherine  Hoffman,  John  Reinhart,  H.  Lewars,  Susan  Hoffman,  Mary  Wayne, 
Henry  Fordney,  Mary  Lewis,  Martha  Lewars,  J.  C.  Meldram,  Elizabeth  Mel- 
dram  and  Lovina  Fordney. 

In  1858-59  Rev.  Christian  Kauffman  and  Rev.  Joseph  Young  began 
preaching  in  a  school  house  on  Third  Street  near  Perry,  near  the  place  where 
our  first  church  was  erected.  The  building  still  stands  and  is  used  as  a 
private  dwelling.  The  meeting  in  1858  resulted  in  a  great  revival,  in  which 
many  persons  were  won  to  Christ,  and  among  them  were  the  following  who 
united  with  the  church :  Francis  Pelen,  James  Gohn,  Martha  Feilis,  William 
Dickey,  Emma  Fisher,  Anna  Stambach,  Benj.  Souders,  Isabella  Adair,  Anna 
Maul,  Mary  Miller,  Abraham  Kauffman,  Henry  Feilis,  Mary  Bigley,  C.  F. 
Gohn,  Louisa  Reuter,  James  Mullin,  Minerva  Sourbeer,  Mary  Balsley, 
Sarah  Delta,  Harrison  Hinkle,  Joanna  Sourbeer,  Anna  Benney,  Eliza- 
beth Hershey,  Sarah  C.  Souders,  and  Kate  Hoffman.  A  number  of  others 
were  renewed  and  reinstated  as  members.  In  November,  1 859,  forty-seven 
more  converts  were  received  into  the  church.  Thus  in  a  few  years  a  strong 
congregation  was  gathered  together  in  this  town,  even  before  it  had  a  church 
to  worship  in. 

In  I  860  the  Columbia  appointment  was  constituted  a  station,  with  Rev. 
J.  A.  Scott  as  its  pastor.  During  this  year  a  church,  about  30  x  40  feet  in  size, 
was  built  on  the  corner  of  Third  and  Perry  Streets.     The  trustees  at  this  time 


138 


LANDMARK    HISTORY    OF    THE 


were  Christian  Hershey,  Jonas  Garber  and  David  Wayne.  The  corner-stone 
was  laid  on  Sunday,  July  1,  1860,  at  2.00  P.  M.,  by  Rev.  W.  B.  Raber,  and  the 
completed  church  was  dedicated  on  Sunday,  November    1  I,   1860,  by  Bishop 

J.  J.  Glossbrenner,  D.D.  It  was  a  plain 
square  structure,  comfortably  but 
plainly  furnished,  and  was  erected  by 
Jacob  Sneath,  contractor,  who  was 
so  long  a  most  active  and  useful  mem- 
ber of  this  congregation,  a  superin- 
tendent of  the  Sunday-school  for 
many  years,  and  who  has  two  sons 
in  active  ministerial  work.  He  died 
only  about  tw^o  years  ago. 

Rev.  J.  A.  Scott  did  not  get  along 
very  well  w^ith  the  congregation.  He 
served  it  only  one  year  and  then  left 
the  conference  and  church  and  joined 
the  Baptists. 

Rev.  L.  Peters  served  as  pastor 
here  in  1861,  and  possibly  in  1862  ; 
G.  W.  M.  Rigor,  who  for  many  years 
was  a  presiding  elder  and  a  promi- 
nent worker  in  the  conference,  was 
the  pastor  in  1863-64-65.  This  was 
the  time  of  the  civil  w^ar,  and  the  con- 
gregation suffered  greatly  because  so 
many  of  the  male  members  went  into  the  army,  some  of  whom  never  re- 
turned. In  1866-67,  Mountville,  Stehman's  and  Chestnut  Hill  were  attached 
to  Columbia,  and  Revs.  W.  S.  H.  Keys  and  Abraham  Kauffman  served  as 
pastors.  During  the  years  1  868-69,  Rev.  W.  S.  H.  Keys  served  the  Columbia 
church.  He  was  a  preacher  of  rare  ability,  an  excellent  pulpit  orator  and  a 
profound  reasoner.  During  his  administration  the  church  made  rapid  pro- 
gress. He  was  followed  by  Rev.  George  Wagoner  in  1870, 
six  months,  and  Rev.  H.  V.  Mohn,  six  months.  Rev.  M.  J. 
Mumma  served  in  1871-72;  Rev.  J.  W.  Geiger,  1873-74-75; 
Rev.  W.  D.  Mower,  1876-77-78.  Rev.  C.  S.  Meily,  a  man  of  j 
ripe  scholarship  and  fine  preaching  ability,  was  the  next 
pastor  in  1879-80-81-82,  quitting  during  the  last  year  on  ac- 
count of  ill  health.  He  died  of  the  cancer  on  December  1  8, 
I  882,  while  yet  a  young  man.  His  unexpired  term  was  filled  I 
by  Revs.  S.  G.  Merrick  and  J.  C.  Smith.  Rev.  J.  B.  Funk 
served  as  pastor  in  1883-84.  In  1885  Rev.  C.  D.  Harp  was 
appointed  the  pastor.  Under  him  a  new  church  was  built  on 
the  site  that  it  now  occupies.  The  congregation  had  suffered 
up  to  this  time  because  of  an  unfavorable  location  of  its  church,  and  now  it 


Columbia  Church,  Old 


UNITED    BRETHREN    CHURCH  139 

began  to  realize  the  pressing  need  of  a  new  church  at  a  more  central  location. 
There  were  tw^o  sites  considered,  one  on  Locust  street  just  below^  Fifth,  and 
the  other  on  the  corner  of  Fifth  street  and  Alley  H.  The  latter  site  was 
selected,  and  it  proved  to  be  a  wise  selection.  On  April  3,  1885,  the  site  was 
bought  from  Mrs.  Mehl  for  $1,200  and  an  Erection  Society  w^as  organized  at 
once  in  the  local  church  for  the  purpose  of  raising  funds  for  the  new  building. 
During  the  month  of  May  the  ground  was  broken,  and  the  new  project  was 
begun.  It  was  a  big  undertaking  for  the  small  congregation  at  that  time,  but 
its  devoted  members  trusted  in  God  and  w^ent  forw^ard. 

At  this  time  there  was  a  mission  chapel  on  South  Fifth  street,  owned  by 
Samuel  Schock,  which  the  trustees  were  trying  to  buy  w^ith  a  view  of  using  the 
material  in  the  same  for  the  erection  of  the  new  church.  The  purchase  w^as 
about  to  be  made,  when  the  owner,  out  of  the  goodness  of  his  heart,  made 
the  follow^ing  proposition  to  the  brethren  :  "  That  if  the  new  church  be  named 
Salome  U.  B.  Church,  in  honor  and  in  memory  of  his  departed  mother,  whose 
name  w^as  Salome,  he  w^ould  give  the  chapel  as  a  donation."  This  proposi- 
tion was  thankfully  and  cheerfully  received.  It  was  a  valuable  gift,  gener- 
ously bestowed.  The  chapel,  including  the  pew^s  and  all  the  furniture,  was 
estimated  at  a  valuation  of  $6,800. 

The  corner-stone  of  the  new  church  was  laid  August  4,  1886.  The  old 
church  property  w^as  sold  April  27,  1887,  for  the  sum  of  $1,300.  The  new^ 
two-storied  brick  church,  62  x  48  feet  in  size,  was  pushed  toward  completion 
as  rapidly  as  possible  by  Jacob  Sneath,  the  contractor,  who  had  built  the  first 
church.  On  Sunday,  October  9,  1887,  the  church  was  dedicated  to  Almighty 
God  by  Bishop  E.  B.  Kephart,  D.D.,  LL.D.,  who  preached  a  remarkably  able 
sermon  from  Matt.  16:  18,  "And  upon  this  rock  I  w^ill  build  my  church,  and 
the  gates  of  hell  shall  not  prevail  against  it."  The  bishop  preached  again  at 
3.15  P.M.,  and  Rev.  J.  W.  Etter,  D.D.,  preached  at  the  evening  service  from 
the  text,  "  In  my  Father's  house  are  many  mansions."  The  day  was  beautiful 
and  all  the  services  were  well  attended.  The  total  cost  of  the  church  was 
$12,542.55.  Of  this  sum  $1  1,042.55  had  been  provided  for,  leaving  a  bal- 
ance still  unprovided  for  of  $1,500.  The  total  amount  in  cash  and  subscrip- 
tions vv^as  secured  during  the  day. 

The  church  is  well  equipped  in  every  way  for  splendid  service  in  the 
Master's  kingdom.  It  has  a  large  pipe  organ,  built  by  the  M.  P.  Moller  Organ 
Co.,  of  Hagerstown,  Md.,  the  first  church  that  was  thus  provided  in  our  de- 
nomination in  this  section  of  the  state.  The  building  committee  consisted  of 
J.  C.  Klingbeil,  Aaron  Dyer,  T.  S.  White,  Uriah  Sourbeer,  D.  K.  Rettew  and 
Rev.  C.  D.  Harp,  and  the  principal  contributors  and  benefactors  were  Col. 
Samuel  Schock,  Jacob  Sneath,  W.  A.  King,  Aaron  Dyer,  J.  C.  Klingbeil  and  T. 
S.  White. 

Rev.  C.  D.  Harp  v/orked  hard  during  this  period,  and  served  as  pastor 
here  three  years.  Rev.  E.  Ludwig  was  appointed  in  1 888,  and  served  six 
years,  under  whom  the  debt  on  the  church  was  wiped  out.  He  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Rev.  A.  A.  Long,  in    1893,  who,  as   the    fruits  of  great  revival  dur- 


140 


LANDMARK    HISTORY    OF    THE 


Columbia  Churcl 


ing  his  first  year's  pastorate,  added  250   members  to  the   church,     h  became 
necessary  to  enlarge   the   church  building.     On  March  8,  1894,  the  property 

on  Walnut  Street  was  bought  of  Mrs. 


Anna  Smith  for  $1,850,  and  on  March 
1  7th  the  building  of  the  annex  was 
started.  In  August  the  church  was 
reopened,  having  been  refurnished, 
provided  with  steam  heat,  carpeted 
and  papered,  and  chairs  placed  in 
the  lecture  and  class  rooms  at  a  cost 
of  $3,201.30,  which,  with  the  cost  of 
the  Walnut  Street  property,  $1,850, 
made  a  total  cost  of  $5,051.30.  At 
this  time  $3,700  of  this  amount  w^as 
paid  in  cash,  leaving,  how^ever,  a  debt 
balance  on  the  church  of  $4,200.  A 
mortgage  w^as  then  placed  on  the 
church  for  $2,000,  and  the  remaining 
$2,200  was  borrowed  from  the  First 
National  Bank  on  the  individual  names 
of  the  trustees  of  the  church.  The 
debt  was  gradually  reduced  and  at 
the  close  of  Rev.  Long's  pastorate  in  October,  1898,  the  entire  debt  still 
remaining  amounted  to  $2,950. 

At  the  annual  conference  of  1898,  Rev.  S.  C.  Enck,  D.D.,  was  sent  to 
Columbia,  and  he  has  served  the  church  as  its  pastor  continuously  from  that 
date  until  now  with  great  fidelity  and  with  much  success,  proving  that  long 
pastorates  are  often  very  necessary  for  the  greatest  material  and  spiritual  de- 
velopment of  a  charge.  In  the  fall  of  1  809,  by  a  long,  hard  pull,  and  a  pull 
together  upon  the  part  of  pastor  and  people,  the  entire  debt  on  the  church 
property,  costing  $17,593.85,  was  wiped  out,  and  the  mortgage  burned.  As 
the  pastor  took  the  mortgage  out  of  his  pocket  at  the  church  services,  he  said. 
This  is  the  fellow  I  have  been  after  for  sixteen  months  and  1  have  captured 
him  at  last.  And  now  to  make  sure  of  him  let  us  send  him  up  in  smoke." 
The  document  was  placed  upon  a  large  platter  and  the  fire  was  applied  by 
the  pastor,  while  the  great  congregation  of  six  hundred  souls  arose  and  sang 
with  a  mighty  voice,  "  Praise  God,  from  whom  all  blessings  flow,"  as  the 
flames  ate  up  the  legal  paper.  At  this  time  the  pastor  received  a  purse  con- 
taining $50,  from  the  hands  of  S.  P.  Black,  as  an  expression  of  appreciation 
from  the  congregation  for  his  splendid  services  among  them. 

In  1901  the  parsonage,  located  at  123  North  Fourth  Street,  having  all  the 
modern  conveniences,  was  bought  at  a  cost  of  $3,750.  The  present  member- 
ship of  the  church  is  619,  and  is  one  of  the  most  aggressive  congregations  in 
the  conference.  The  congregation  is  looking^ toward  greater  ^victories  for 
Christ,   instead   of   sitting  down    in   complacency  ^to\enjoy   its   past    success. 


UNITED    BRETHREN    CHURCH 


141 


Only  recently  another  property  adjoining  the  church  was  bought  for  $4,700, 
with  a  view  of  a  larger  expansion  of  the  work.  The  Columbia  church  is 
"  forgetting  those  things  w^hich  are  behind,  and  reaching  forth  unto  those 
things  which  are  before." 


S  H  1  S  S  L  E  R '  S— N  EFFSVILLE    CHURCH 

This  church  is  the  direct  product  of  the  meetings  held  at  Isaac  Long's, 
the  beginnings  of  which  date  back  nearly  one  hundred  and  fifty  years.  From 
1766  to  1815  the  preaching  services  were  held  alternately  at  Isaac's  Long's 
and  John  Long's.  From  1 8 1 5  to  1 865  the  services  were  held  at  Joseph 
Long's,  a  grandson  of  John  Long  s.  In  1865 
the  frame  meeting-house,  known  as  Shiss- 
ler's  church,  35  x  40  feet  in  size,  was  built 
at  a  lonely  place  one  mile  northeast  of  Isaac 
Long's  farm,  and  one  mile  north  of  Neffs- 
ville.  The  membership  here  gradually  de- 
creased in  number  until  there  were  only 
twelve  left,  the  preaching  became  less  fre- 
quent, and  the  building  and  graveyard 
fence  w^ere  sadly  in  need  of  repairs. 

Some  one  may  ask  w^hy  the  United 
Brethren  became  so  weak  in  the  Isaac 
Long  neighborhood.  Levi  S.  Reist,  whose 
w^ife  was  a  great-granddaughter  of  Isaac 
Long's,  answers  this  inquiry  in  a  letter  to 
the  annual  conference  of  1887.  He  says, 
"  The  brethren  started  out  a  little  unde- 
nominational, and  that  spirit  exists  more 
or  less  to-day.  At  this  time  there  are  two 
sisters  living,  both  upwards  of  eighty  years 
of  age,  who  were  never  taken  up,  as  they  used  to  say.  Also  there  were  three 
other  sisters  who  died  within  the  last  ten  years  who  were  good  members,  but 
who  had  never  been  taken  up,  or  formally  received  into  the  church.  Rev. 
Joseph  Long,  a  local  preacher  of  high  standing  as  a  Christian  and  a  good 
United  Brother,  was  at  the  same  time  a  Freiheits  man,"  that  is  to  say,  a  man  of 
liberal  spirit  as  to  formally  uniting  with  the  church.  It  is  very  clear  to  us 
that  a  Christian  ought  to  join  a  church  for  the  help  it  is  to  himself  to  be  in 
the  company  of  those  who  are  trying  to  live  the  Christian  life.  He  should 
join  the  church  because  it  is  the  institution  that  is  preaching  Christ  to  the 
world  and  trying  to  save  it,  and  the  Christian  should  desire,  above  everything, 
to  help  preach  Christ  to  his  own  countrymen  and  all  the  world.  Above  all 
things  else,  he  should  join  the  church  because  the  evil  of  the  world  is  so  great, 
and  is  so  strongly  organized,  that  it  requires  the  organized  effort  of  all  good 
people  not  only  to  withstand  it,  but  to   banish  it  from  the  world.     It   always 


rs.  Levi  S.   Reist 


142 


LANDMARK    HISTORY    OF    THE 


seems  to  us  that  it  is  as  strange  for  a  Christian  to  remain  outside  of  the  church» 
which  is  the  republic,  the  country  of  the  soul,  as  for  a  good  man  living  in  the 
United  States  to  stand  aloof  from  his  country  and  not  become  a  citizen  of  it. 
In  the  spring  of  1  886  Shissler's  church  was  torn  down  under  the  pastorate 
of  Rev.  G.  A.  Loose,  and  much  of  the  lumber  used  in  its  construction  was  used  in 

the  erection  of  a  new  church,  35  x50  feet 
in  size,  in  the  center  of  the  village  of  Neffs- 
ville,  on  a  lot  that  had  been  bought  for 
$500.  The  trustees  of  the  church  at  this 
time  were  Levi  S.  Reist,  A.  S.  Ilyus,  who 
was  a  relative  of  the  late  Rev.  J.  G.  Clair, 
H.  F.  Hostetter,  who  was  the  son-in-law 
of  Levi  S.  Reist,  and  Andrew  L.  Lane,  w^ho 
w^as  the  grandson  of  Rev.  Joseph  Long,  all 
men  of  good  reputation  and  wide  influ- 
eenc.  Under  the  supervision  of  these  men 
the  new  church  w^as  erected.  Mr.  Reist 
spent  considerable  time  in  soliciting  funds 
at  home  and  abroad  to  make  the  building 
of  this  church  a  possibility.  The  corner- 
stone w^as  laid  on  Sunday  afternoon  of 
October  24,   1886,  by  Rev.  J.  F.  Mower. 

On  Whitsunday,  May  29,  1887,  the 
anniversary  of  the  great  meeting  in  the 
historic  Isaac  Long  barn,  the  church  was  dedicated  to  God  by  Bishop  J. 
Weaver,  D.D.,  as  the  "  Long  Memorial  United  Brethren  Church."  There  was 
a  great  gathering  of  people  assembled  on  that  occasion,  and  the  bishop  was 
at  his  best  in  the  delivery  of  his  sermon  from  I  Tim.  3:16,  "Received  up  into 
glory."  The  bishop  was  assisted  by  Revs.  G.  W.  M.  Rigor,  I.  Baltzell,  M.  A. 
Salt,  J.  G.  Dissinger,  J.  B.  Funk,  G.  W.  Lightner,  T.  Garland,  L.  R.  Kramer 
and  S.  R.  Gipple. 

There  were  enough  members  living  in  and  near  Neffsville  to  reorganize 
the  class,  and  prosperity  attended  the  efforts  of  the  pastors  and  congregation 
in  the  building  up  of  the  material  and  spiritual  interests  of  the  church,  espec- 
ially during  the  last  eight  years  under  the  faithful  pastorate  of  Rev.  S.  S. 
Daugherty,  who  served  Lititz  charge,  to  which  this  church  belongs.  During 
the  year  1904  the  church  w^as  thoroughly  repaired  and  beautified  at  a  cost  of 
$2,464.50,  all  of  which  has  been  paid.  It  was  reconsecrated  on  Sunday,  Feb- 
ruary 28,  1904,  by  the  writer,  assisted  by  Revs.  E.  A.  G,  Bossier  and  S.  S. 
Daugherty,  the  pastor.  During  the  past  winter  quite  a  number  of  persons 
were  converted  to  God  and  added  to  the  church  under  the  pastorate  of  Rev. 
Jas.  E.  Keene, 


Neffsville  Church 

hundred    and     twenty-first 


UNITEDBRETHRENCHURCH  145 


MOUNT    JOY    CHURCH 

There  was  preaching  in  this  thriving  town  by  the  United  Brethren 
preachers  as  early  as  1829.  Revs.  John  Neidig,  Jacob  Roop,  Felix  Light, 
John  Light  and  Casper  Light,  were  accustomed  to  preach  here  in  what  was 
known  as  the  Old  Bell  schoolhouse,  which  w^as  used  as  a  preaching  place  by 
a  number  of  ministers  of  different  denominations  before  they  had  churches 
of  their  own.  In  I  860  a  class  was  organized  here  with  George  Geyer  as  the 
leader,  who  conducted  class-meetings  and  prayer-meetings  for  a  number  of 
years.  In  1865-66  Rev.  L.  Peters,  who  was  then  preaching  on  Lancaster  Cir- 
cuit, took  up  a  Sunday  afternoon  appointment  in  the  Lutheran  church  in  the 
town,  and  this  prepared  the  way  for  the  erection  of  a  house  of  worship.  At 
a  quarterly  conference  held  on  the  circuit  in  the  month  of  February,  1867, 
the  following  brethren  were  appointed  to  look  into  the  matter  and  report  at 
the  next  quarterly  meeting:  George  Geyer,  Samuel  S.  Royer  and  Samuel 
Strickler.  At  a  quarterly  meeting  held  in  the  Florin  church  May  25,  1867, 
this  committee  reported  that  a  lot,  centrally  located  in  Mount  Joy,  could  be 
bought  of  Henry  Eberly  for  $450,  and  that  they  had  secured  subscriptions  to 
the  amount  of  $2,700  toward  the  purchase  of  a  lot  and  the  building  of  a 
church.  Then  the  following  brethren  were  constituted  a  board  of  trustees : 
George  Geyer,  Samuel  S.  Royer,  George  Eby,  John  Miller  and  John  Shroff. 
On  May  27,  1867,  the  trustees  met  at  John  Miller's  home  and  agreed  to  make 
an  earnest  effort  to  build  a  church.  They  also  appointed  George  Geyer  to 
purchase  the  lot  offered  for  sale  by  Henry  Eberly.  After  the  lot  had  been 
purchased  it  was  agreed  to  build  a  two-storied  brick  church,  38  x  60  feet  in 
size.  George  Eby  and  John  Booth  were  then  appointed  to  visit  the  church  at 
McKey's  Half  Falls,  the  architectural  style  of  which  was  to  be  patterned  after 
in  the  church  that  was  to  be  built  here,  and  to  see  a  contractor.  It  was  further 
agreed  that  the  front  wall  of  the  church  was  to  be  eighteen  inches  thick  to 
the  roof,  and  walled  up  with  pilasters,  and  a  suitable  steeple  was  also  to  be 
built  upon  it.  John  Hallowell  did  the  mason  work,  and  John  Booth  did  the 
carpenter  work  on  the  building.  The  first  story  was  to  be  ten  feet  clear  to 
the  ceiling,  and  the  second  was  to  be  sixteen  feet  clear.  The  corner-stone 
was  laid  July  28,  1867,  by  Revs.  E.  Light  and  W.  S.  H.  Keys,  and  the  com- 
pleted church  was  dedicated  to  God  January  19,  1868,  by  Bishop  J.  J.  Gloss- 
brenner,  D.D.,  assisted  by  Revs.  E.  Light,  John  Stehman,  I.  Carpenter,  W.  B. 
Evers  and  H.  E.  Hackman.  The  church  was  built  under  the  pastorate  of 
Revs.  W.  B.  Evers  and  H.  E.  Hackman,  at  a  cost  of  $7,000,  $5,000  of  which 
was  raised  on  or  before  the  day  of  dedication,  and  the  remainder  was  paid  in 
1875  under  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  J.  W.  Etter,  D.D.,  at  which  time  the  interior 
of  the  church  was  refitted  at  considerable  expense. 

Rev.  D.  O.  Farrell  served  as  pastor  of  the  circuit  to  which  this  church  be- 
longed in  1868-69;  J.  C.  Mumma,  1870-71.  At  the  annual  conference  held 
in    Mountville,   March    8,    1871,    Mount   Joy   was   constituted    a  station    with 


144 


LANDMARK     HISTORY     OF    THE 


Strickler's  church   attached,   and  Rev.   John   Fohl  was  appointed  pastor,  who 

served  it  one  year. 
The  following  pastors 
served  the  church 
since  then  :  Revs.  J. 
R.Meredith,  1872-73- 
74  ;  J.  W.  Etter,  D.D., 
1875-76;  J.K.Fisher, 
1877-78;  M.P.Doyle, 
1879-80;  G.  W.  M. 
Rigor,  I  88 1-82.  Broth- 
er Rigor  entered  the 
active  ministry  within 
the  bounds  of  the 
Allegheny  Confer- 
ence in  1854,  came 
into  the  East  Penn- 
sylvania Conference 
in  1862,  since  w^hich 
time  he  has  served 
some  of  its  leading 
charges.  He  was  a 
presiding  elder  for  ten 
years,  for  a  time  edi- 
tor of  the  Itinerant 
three  times  a  delegate 
to  the  general  confer- 
ence, and  tw^enty-five 

years  secretary  of  the  annual  conference.     About  3,000  souls  were  converted 

to  God  under  his   ministry,  and   about  2,500   persons   were   received  by  him 

nto  the  church.     He  w^as  one  of  the  active  promoters 

of  Lebanon  Valley  College  and  one  of  its  first  trustees. 

He  ysras  a  strenuous  and  successful   worker.     He   fell 

asleep  in  Jesus  July  9,  1906,  to  awake  at  the  dawn  of 

the  morning. 

The    following    w^ere    the   successors   of    Brother 

Rigor  in   the   Mount  Joy   church:  Revs.  J.  W.  Etter, 

D.D.,  1883-84;  J.  T.  Shaffer,  1885-86;  D.  D.  Lowery, 

D.D.,  1887-88;  H.  C.  Philips,   1889-90-91-92  to  Octo- 
ber, 1893;  J.  A.  Lyter,  D.D.,   1893-94-95  :  H.  F.  Mc- 

Nelly,    1896-97-98;  J.   M.   Shelly,     1899-00-01  ;   H.  C. 

Philips,  1902;   I.  E.  Runk,   1903-04-05;  E.G.  Burtner, 

1  906-07  ;  J.  B.  Rittgers,  1 908-09 — .  An  old  unoccupied  Rev.  G.  w.  M.  Rigor 

house  owned  by  the   church   stood  where   the    parsonage   now   stands.     The 


Mount  Joy  Church 


UNITED  IB  RETHREN     CHURCH 


145 


brethren  learned  that  some  objectionable  peo 
it,  whom  it  might  be  difficult  to  persuade 
to  move  out  when  once  in.  To  make 
it  uninhabitable  some  of  the  brethren 
went  into  it  one  night  and  tore  up  the 
floors,  cut  out  the  partitions  and  other- 
wise despoiled  it.  Shortly  after  this  in 
1878,  the  building  was  torn  down  and 
the  present  parsonage  was  built  at  a  cost 
of  $2,500,  under  the  pastorate  of  Rev. 
J.  K.  Fisher. 

The  church  property  has  been  ex- 
tensively remodeled  and  improved  in  the 
recent  years,  changing  the  outw^ard  ap- 
pearance of  the  church  in  the  removal 
of  the  steeple  and  fences,  and  in  the 
erection  of  a  long,  roofed  porch  along 
the  front  of  the  parsonage.  The  con- 
gregation has  also  enjoyed  some  gra- 
cious revivals  in  the  recent  years, 
thus  greatly  strengthening  the  church. 
A  large  men's  class  and  a  flourishing 
Sunday  School  are  doing  good  w^ork  here. 


pie  thought  of  moving  steathily  into 


Rev.  D.  D.  Lowery,  D.D. 


EPHRATA    CHURCH 

Ephrata  is  one  of  the  thriving  towns  of  the  county,  in  which  there  is  a 
strong  United  Brethren  congregation.  In  the  spring  of  1871,  while  Rev.  M. 
J.  Mumma  was  pastor  of  New  Holland  charge,  which  at  that  time  consisted  of 
six  congregations  as  follows  :  Soudersburg,  Monterey,  Ranck's,  New  Holland, 
Intercourse  and  Hinkletown,  he  was  called  here  to  visit  and  preach  in  the 
home  of  Burton  Keener.  Mr.  Keener's  son,  Cyrus,  a  young  man,  was  ill  with 
consumption.  In  course  of  time  the  sick  young  man  professed  conversion, 
was  baptized  and  received  into  the  church.  He  died  in  the  faith  in  August 
of  1871. 

By  this  time  there  w^as  quite  a  strong  desire  for  more  frequent  and  regular 
services,  but  there  was  no  place  in  which  to  hold  stated  meetings,  and  but 
poor  prospects  for  the  organization  of  a  congregation,  as  there  w^ere  only  three 
members  of  our  denomination  residing  in  the  town,  w^ho  w^ere  identified  with 
Ranck's  appointment.  They  were  Mrs.  Burton  Keener,  and  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
William  Sprecher.  In  the  spring  of  1872,  at  a  quarterly  meeting,  John  R. 
Boyer,  of  Hinkletown,  Levi  Hoover,  of  near  New^  Holland,  and  William 
Sprecher,  of  Ephrata,  were  constituted  a  board  of  trustees  to  undertake  the 
building  of  a  church  in  this  town.  On  March  23,  1872,  a  lot  was  purchased 
on  West  Main  Street  for  $500.  The  boundaries  of  this  lot  were  found  to  be 
of  such  a  nature  that  a  suitable  church  edifice  could   not   be   erected   upon  it, 


146 


LANDMARK    HISTORY    OF    THE 


^■~^ 


and  this  site  was  abandoned.  A  part  of  this  ground  is  now  occupied  by  the 
Kurtz  cash  grocery,  a  part  by  the  Athletic  Association  and  another  part  by  the 
H.  C.  GemperHng  building.  The  present  site  on  Church  Street  was  purchased 
June  3,  1872,  and  at  a  meeting  of  the  board  of  trustees  held  June  24,  1872,  it 
was  decided  to  build  a  brick  church,  32  x  48  feet  in  size.  At  that  time  the 
only  church  w^ithin  the  present  limits  of  the  borough  w^as  Trinity  Lutheran 
church,  which  had  been  built  in  1869.  The  corner-stone  of  the  new  church 
was  laid  July  28,  1872,  by  Rev.  W.  S.  H.  Keys,  D.D.  The  services  on  this 
occasion  w^ere  held  in  the  orchard  of  Martin  Gross,  located  on  the  southw^est 
corner  of  West  Main  and  Church  Streets.     The  church  was  dedicated  to  God 

on  Sunday,  December  2,  1872,  by  Rev.  L. 
Peters,  presiding  elder.  Immediately  after 
this  special  services  were  held  for  the  ben- 
efit of  the  unsaved,  w^hich  w^ere  continued 
several  w^eeks.  At  the  close  of  these  serv- 
ices the  church  was  organized  with  thirty- 
six  members,  some  of  w^hom  are  promi- 
nent citizens  of  the  town  to-day.  A  Sun- 
day School  was  also  started  at  this  time, 
but  was  discontinued  for  w^ant  of  patronage 
until  1876,  when  it  w^as  reorganized,  vs^ith 
J.  J.  Yeager,  Sr.,  as  the  superintendent,  and 
has  been  continued  ever  since.  John  V. 
Snader  w^as  one  of  its  superintendents,  who 
served  for  a  period  of  about  tw^enty  years. 
„  H.  H.  Singer  is  the  present  incumbent. 

jll^.  This  church  was  connected  w^ith  New^ 

|~ys^    -,^  ,        ■  .^ -  ,_i      Holland  chargie  three  years.     Later  it   w^as 

connected  with  other  appointments  and  for 
several  years  it  w^as  a  mission.  At  the  con- 
ference of  1  889  it  was  constituted  a  station.  Up  to  this  year  the  church  -was 
served  by  the  following  pastors  :  M.  J.  Mumma,  1872  ;  M.  J.  Mumma  and  J. 
H.  Groff,  1873-74;  J.  F.  Mower,  1875-76;  S.  R.  Grabill,  1877;  1.  Carpenter, 
1878:  P.  A.  Bowman,  1879-80-81-82-83;  M.  A.  Salt,  1884;  L.R.Kramer, 
1885-86-87-88  to  October,  1889;  J.Francis  Smith,  1889-90-91.  Under  the 
last  named  pastor  the  congregation  probably  passed  through  its  busiest  years. 
During  this  period  the  parsonage  was  built  by  the  side  of  the  church,  and  a 
new^  church  was  shortly  after  built  on  the  site  of  the  old  one.  It  is  a  two- 
storied  brick  building,  44  x  70  feet  in  size,  with  a  gallery  in  the  auditorium  on 
the  second  floor,  it  is  seated  with  Dayton  opera  chairs,  and  has  a  sitting  ca- 
pacity of  500,  including  the  gallery.  The  first  floor  is  divided  into  two  parts 
and  these  are  for  Sunday  School  and  other  department  w^ork.  The  cost  of 
the  building  as  it  was  then  was  $5,600,  $2,684  of  which  had  been  paid  upon 
it  before  the  day  of  dedication.  It  was  dedicated  to  God  December  4,  1892, 
by  Bishop  N.  Castle,   D.D.,    assisted  by  Rev.  H.  B.   Dohner,  D.D.,    and  Rev.  J. 


Ephrata  Church 


UNITED    BRETHREN    CHURCH 


f47 


G.  W.  Herold,  the  pastor.  The  following  pastors  were  in  attendance :  Revs. 
J.  F.  Smith,  L.  R.  Kramer,  L.  Peters,  I.  M.  Groff,  C.  G.  F.  Miller  and  D.  S. 
Eshelman.  On  the  dedication  day  $1,800  was  secured  for  the  church  and 
$700  was  assumed  by  the  trustees.  The  total  valuation  of  the  parsonage  and 
church  at  this  time  was  $9,000,  and  the  last  dollar  of  indebtedness  on  it  was 
paid  in  1906  under  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  C.  E.  Boughter. 

Since  1891  the  following  pastors  served  this  church:  Revs.  J.  G.  W. 
Herold,  1892-93;  A.  L.  Shannon,  1894-95;  U.  S.  G.  Renn,  1896-97-98-99; 
M.  J.  Mumma,  1900-01-02  ;  C.  E.  Boughter,  1903  to  1909—  The  church  has 
enjoyed  some  gracious  revivals  in  the  recent  years,  greatly  strengthening  its 
forces  for  good,  under  the  long  and  faithful  pastorial  labors  of  Rev.  C.  E. 
Boughter,  who  has  served  this  congregation  since  1903.  Extensive  improve- 
ments to  the  property  have  been  made  under  him  at  a  cost  of  $2,000,  all  of 
which  have  been  paid. 

In  September,  1899,  the  work  in  Denver  was  instituted  under  the  pastorate 
of  Rev.  U.  S.  G.  Renn,  who  saw  an  opportunity  in  that  growing  town  for  our 
church,  and  he  was  not  slow  in  embracing  it.  His  efforts  were  owned  of  the 
Lord  and  during  the  following  year  a  church  w^as  built  there  at  a  cost  of 
$5,000,  under  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  S.  L.  Rhoads. 

STEHMAN'S    CHURCH 


This  church  is  located  two  and  one-half  miles  southwest  of  Millersville, 
in  the  southern  part  of  the  county,  and  belongs  to  Manor  Circuit.  Sixty  years 
ago  there  was  no  church  in  this  community  w^ithin  a  radius  of  many  miles,  but 
preaching  services  had  been  held  at  a  number  of  places.  The  Evangelical 
Association  preached  where  Peter  Baker  and 
Frank  Rummel  now  reside.  The  Methodists 
preached  in  the  residence  of  Isaac  Hess ;  also  in 
that  of  Christian  Herr,  but  they  w^ere  in  the 
habit  of  locking  the  doors  against  all  but  their 
members  at  their  class-meetings.  This  w^as  not 
popular  in  the  community.  Christian  Herr,  be- 
coming acquainted  w^ith  our  church  and  its  open 
door  policy,  invited  our  preachers  to  preach 
here.  They  came  and  preached  here  as  early  as 
1836  in  various  private  residences.  At  the  home 
of  Reuben  Kauffman,  John  Stehman  and  his 
wife  were  converted  to  God,  and  this  event  gave 
the  work  of  our  church  a  good  start,  w^hich  event- 
ually resulted  in  the  formation  of  a  pastoral 
charge.  In  1857  Brother  Stehman  built  the 
church  which  is  known  as  "  Stehman's  Memorial  Church,"  and  he  also  was 
the  chief  promoter  and  support  in  the  erection  of  the  church  at  Highville  in 
1  868.     Stehman's   church   was  rebuilt  in  a  more  commodious  and  substantial 


Rev,  John  Stehman 


148  LANDMARKHISTORY 

form  in  1895,  under  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  S.  G.  Kauffman.  For  years  this 
church  belonged  to  Mountville  Circuit,  and  the  pastors  who  served  that  cir- 
cuit also  preached  here. 

Since  1876  the  following  preachers  served  this  church:  Revs.  A.  H. 
Kauffman,  1876-77-78-79;  M.  P.Sanders,  1880-81  ;  G.  W.  Lightner,  1882-83; 
J.  D.  Freed,  1884-85;  H.  H.Mower,  1886;  U.S.  G.  Renn,  1887;  J.  F.  Smith, 
1888;  William  Beach,  1889-90-91  ;  N.  A.  Kiracofe,  1892-93-94;  S.  G.  Kauff- 
man. 1895-96-97-98-99-00;  M.  E.  Bachman,  1901;  H.  H.  Romig,  1902-03; 
H.  J.  Behney,  1904-05  ;  H.  M.  Trautman,  1906-07;  John  Ohmacht,  1908-09—. 

Rev.  John  Stehman  and  his  devoted  wife  were  the  principal  projectors  of 
our  church  life  in  this  community.  They  w^ere  a  very  earnest  and  pious  couple, 
meriting  the  confidence  of  all  who  knew  them,  and  thoroughly  devoted  to  the 
cause  of  the  Master.  Brother  Stehman  was  licensed  to  preach  in  1 842,  at 
Funk's  Academy,  Dauphin  County,  Bishop  J.  Erb  presiding.  He  was  ordained 
at  Florin  in  1846,  by  Bishop  J.  J.  Glossbrenner,  D.D.  "In  the  early  days  of 
his  ministry,  and  up  to  the  time  when  the  infirmities  of  age  began  to  settle 
upon  him,  he  abounded  in  the  work  of  the  Lord,  traveling  extensively 
throughout  the  conference.  Wherever  he  was  known,  his  name  was  a 
synonym  of  piety.  He  was  one  of  the  first  persons  in  the  United  Brethren 
Church  to  contribute  liberally  of  his  means  to  the  cause  of  missions,  and 
always  stood  among  the  foremost  in  sustaining  the  interests  of  the  Church  he 
loved  so  well.  He  delighted  in  referring  to  that  fact,  that  in  obedience  to 
his  ordination  vows,  he  had  upheld  the  itinerant  plan.  He  was  the  faithful 
friend  and  earnest  supporter  of  the  itinerant  preacher."  Truly  it  may  be  said 
of  him,  "  He  was  a  good  man,  and  full  of  the  Holy  Ghost  and  of  faith."  He 
fell  asleep  in  Jesus  at  the  residence  of  his  son,  John  B.  Stehman,  Mountville, 
June  4,   1887,  aged  85  years,  10  months  and  19  days. 


CHAPTER     I  I  I 


YORK    COUNTY— FIRST    PREACHERS    AND   PREACHING   PLACES— THE    CONFER- 
ENCE AT  SPANGLER'S- YORK    CIRCUIT— THE  CAMP  MEETING  AT  LEWIS 
HARTMAN'S-CHURCHES  :  WINTERSTOWN—ZION— FIRST  CHURCH, 
YORK— DALLASTOWN-  -ROHLER'S  UNION— SPRINGET- ST.  PAUL— 
MANCHESTER— JERUSALEM  —  MT.    WOLF  —  SPRY- 
RED  LION— SECOND  CHURCH,  YORK— THIRD 
CHURCH,   YORK— DILLSBURG— ETC. 

ORK  County  was  formed  out  of  a  part  of  Lancaster  county 
August  19,  1849.  It  then  included  Adams  county,  which 
was  formed  out  of  York  county  January  20,  1 800.  Its 
first  white  settlers  were  chiefly  Germans  and  Scotch-Irish, 
the  latter  locating  in  the  southeastern  portion  of  the  county. 
The  hills  of  Newberry  were  found  by  the  Quakers,  who 
obtained  free  grants  of  land  from  the  Penns  on  which  to  build  their  meet- 
ing-houses. One  of  these  is  still  standing  in  the  village  of  Newberry,  one 
near  Lewisberry  and  one  near  Wellsville.  The  vast  body  of  the  early  settlers 
were  Germans,  and  their  first  settlements  were  made  on  Kreutz  Creek  and  in 
the  neighborhood  of  where  Hanover  now^  stands. 

Within  this  county  our  early  preachers  found  good  soil  for  their  evangel- 
istic work,  and  they  took  advantage  of  their  opportunities  as  well  as  they 
could.  They  preached  mostly  in  the  German  language.  The  first  United 
Brethren  preacher  who  preached  in  this  county  of  w^hich  w^e  have  any  record 
w^as  Rev.  Christian  New^comer,  the  pioneer  of  pioneers  in  leading  the  way  in 
the  planting  of  our  churches  in  so  many  places.  On  the  29th  of  April,  1  797, 
he  preached  in  BIymyer's  Union  Church,  located  one  mile  south  of  Dallas- 
town.  His  text  on  this  occasion  is  found  in  Luke  17:  13,  14,  15,  and  he 
says  in  his  Journal  that  "the  people  were  very  attentive."  In  the  afternoon 
of  the  same  day  he  preached  in  Frey's  (Freysville)  Church,  located  three 
miles  northeast  of  Dallastown.  Here  he  preached  from  I  Peter  4  :  7.  He 
says  of  this  effort  that  "  the  Word  seemed  to  take  effect ;  several  persons  burst 
forth  into  tears."  He  must  have  preached  a  good  sermon  to  effect  so  tend- 
erly the  hearts  of  his  hearers.  BIymyer's  and  Freysville  churches  are  used 
by  the  Lutherans  and  German  Reformed  people,  and  were  founded  in  1  748 
and   1771   respectively.     Shortly  after  the    congregation   at   BIymyer's  was  or- 

149 


150  LANDMARK    HISTORY    OF    THE 

ganized,  a  small  log  house  for  church  services  and  school  purposes  was  built. 
The  pastor  served  also  as  teacher  of  the  school.  It  was  then  the  only  church 
for  a  large  extent  of  territory.  It  is  said  that  some  of  its  members  w^ho  w^or- 
shiped  here  over  a  century  ago,  came  a  distance  of  from  twelve  to  fourteen 
miles.  The  present  brick  church  is  the  third  building  on  this  site.  Among 
the  first  German  Reformed  clergymen  to  serve  this  church  was  Rev.  William 
Otterbein,  w^ho  preached  here  occasionally  vv^hile  pastor  in  York. 

Mr.  Newcomer's  visit  to  this  section  of  the  country  as  w^ell  as  his  sermon 
may  by  some  be  looked  upon  as  a  matter  of  only  ordinary  importance  and 
scarcely  deserving  of  a  passing  notice ;  but  vs^e  should  remember 

"  That  large  streams  from  little  fountains  flow, 
Tall  trees  from  little  acorns  grow." 

His  first  visit  w^as  followed  by  other  visits  here  and  to  other  places  in  the 
county,  and  paved  the  way  also  for  his  successors  in  the  field.  Martin  Boehm 
also  preached  a  sermon  in  an  open  field  in  York,  w^hich  tradition  reports  as 
having  been  delivered  in  what  w^as  long  know^n  as  "  The  Commons, "  now^ 
as  Penn  Park.  It  is  said  that  "  a  great  many  people  attended  this  service." 
When  this  sermon  was  delivered  is  not  definitely  knov/n,  but  it  must  have 
been  either  before  Mr.  New^comer's  visit  to  Blymyer's  Church  or  shortly  after, 
as  Peter  Senseny,  "  who  w^alked  about  the  grounds  having  his  legs  ensconced 
w^ithin  a  pair  of  large  riding  boots  and  spurs, "  dated  his  conviction  of  sin  to 
some  remarks  that  Mr.  Boehm  made  on  this  occasion,  and  that  led  him  to 
seek  the  Lord.  His  conversion  must  have  occurred  sometime  prior  to  1801, 
as  at  the  annual  conference  of  that  year  he  is  recorded  as  being  a  member  of 
that  body,  and  at  the  conference  of  1803,  "  Peter  Senseny,  Ludw^ig  Duckwald 
and  John  Neidig  w^ere  given  permission  to  baptize  and  administer  the  Lord's 
supper,  with  all  that  pertains  thereto. "  Mr.  Boehm,  in  expiating  on  the  w^ick- 
edness  of  the  times,  exclaimed,  "  Some  persons  are  going  to  hell  with  boots 
and  spurs. '  These  particular  w^ords  entered  Mr.  Senseny's  ears  with  impres- 
sive force,  and  reverberated  in  his  mind  until  he  shortly  after  sought  the  Lord 
and  obtained  a  change  of  heart. 

Mr.  Newcomer  also  preached  in  the  Pigeon  Hill  Church  on  June  5,  1  799, 
"with  considerable  liberty,"  and  on  June  9,  1  799,  at  Jacob  Rohler's;  again  at 
York  on  November  24,  1 799,  he  preached  a  funeral  sermon,  and  on  the 
previous  night  he  lodged  with  George  Conn,  who  later  became  a  prominent 
and  useful  member  of  our  First  Church  in  that  city.  He  lived  on  George 
Street  and  at  this  time  was  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Church.  He  v/as  a 
good  man  and  was  always  highly  spoken  of  even  to  this  day.  He  donated  his 
grandfather's  clock  to  adorn  the  parsonage,  and  gave  to  the  trustees  of  the 
church  $1,000  as  a  sacred  fund,  the  interest  of  which  is  to  be  used  forever  in 
support  of  the  local  church  w^ork.  He  died  January  6,  1877,  at  the  age  of  93 
years,  9  months  and  27  days.  On  December  10,  1802,  Mr.  Newcomer 
preached  again  at  York,  this  time  "  in  the  Methodist  meeting-house, "  where 
he  had  considerable  liberty   to   speak.     He  says,  "  The   people   presently  got 


UNITED     BRETHREN    CHURCH 


151 


loud  and  clapped  their  hands  in  such  a  manner  that  my  voice  could  scarcely 
be  heard ;  some  of  them  shouted  for  joy,  and  my  poor  soul  rejoiced  with 
them.  I  went  home  with  Weyerly  Bentz  and 
lodged  with  him."  Weyerly  Bentz  lived  on  the 
farm  east  of  Highland  Park  and  adjoining  it.  He 
was  a  near  relative  to  Mrs.  M.  L.  Duhling,  of  Man- 
chester, w^hose  maiden  name  was  Bentz.  Mr.  New^- 
comer  often  lodged  with  him  and  sometimes 
preached  in  his  house.  This  meeting-house  is  the 
property  that  our  people  bought  of  the  Methodists 
in  1 840,  and  was  the  predecessor  of  our  present 
First  Church  in  this  city.  Little  did  Mr.  Newcomer 
then  think  that  this  unpretentious  building  was  des- 
tined to  become  a  United  Brethren  Church,  and  a 
center  of  evangelistic  power  in    the   denomination,  George  Conn 

of  which  he  was  one  of  its  early  promoters.  He  often  preached  here  for  the 
Methodists,  and  incidentally  refers  again  and  again  to  the  glorious  meetings 
that  they  had.  Mayor  D.  K.  Noel,  of  York,  in  an  article  published  in  the 
papers  some  years  ago,  in  reference  to  the  great  meetings  held  here  in  those 
early  days,  said  that  "  they  sang  and  shouted  that  they  could  be  easily  heard 
on  George  Street,"  which  w^as  fully  three  blocks  aw^ay.  Mr.  New^comer  also 
preached  in  the  York  County  Court  House  occasionally,  at  Altland's  school 
house,  at  John  Bull's,  near  Weigle's  Church ;  at  Lew^isberry,  at  Naylor's,  near 
Weiglestown;  at  Henry  Diesman's,  at  Lewis  Haney's,  near  Winterstown ;  at 
Liverpool  (now^  Manchester),  at  Strasburg,  and  at  other  places,  where  as  the 
w^ork  was  taken  up  and  carried  on  by  his  successors  we  now^  have  flourishing 
congregations.  We  are  not  able  to  say  definitely  who  these  successors  were. 
We  know  this,  however,  that  at  David  Snyder's,  in  Cumberland  County,  Mar- 
tin Boehn  and  Christopher  Grosh  were  appointed  to  "  arrange  the  work  of 
the  preachers  in  Pennsylvania,  so  as  best  to  glorify  God,  benefit  their  hearers, 
and  the  building  up  of  the  church.  "  Under  the  leadership  of  these  brethren 
York  County  was  not  neglected,  considering  the  limited  number  of  ministers 
that  they  had  under  their  charge. 

Early  in  the  eighteenth  century  the  visits  of  our  preachers  to  this  county 
became  more  frequent,  but  very  irregular  for  a  period  of  about  twenty  years. 
There  were  no  pastoral  charges  formed  as  yet  in  the  county  and  the  preach- 
ing was  done  by  brethren  who  happened  to  come  into  this  section.  Revs. 
John  Neidig,  the  two  Crums,  the  two  Browns,  and  Henry  Hiestand  were 
among  them. 

The  services  in  those  early  days  w^ere  mostly  held  in  private  houses  and 
school  houses,  w^hich  were  not  large  and  generally  built  of  logs.  But  many 
gracious  revivals  were  held  in  these  primitive  buildings.  The  school  houses 
were  generally  dingy  looking  places,  with  their  low  ceilings,  rude  benches, 
smoked  walls,  and  the  whole  lit  up  with  half  a  dozen  tallow  dips.  As  for  the 
congregation  in  revival  time,  it  seemed  as  though  the  whole  neighborhood  for 


1 52  LANDMARK     HISTORYOFTHE 

miles  around  had  poured  out  and  crowded  into  the  school  house.  The 
preacher  had  barely  room  to  stand  at  the  desk  or  table  and  preach  the  Word. 
While  he  preached  the  hearty  "  amens  "  of  the  brethren  and  sisters  mingled 
with  the  sobbing  and  weeping  of  the  penitents  showed  that  hearts  were  being 
moved  by  the  divine  Spirit.  When  the  invitation  for  penitents  was  given  they 
would  come  crowding  their  way  to  the  "  mourners'  bench."  In  those  days  the 
preacher  did  not  invite  the  members  to  come  forward  around  the  altar.  They 
w^ere  there  already.  Where  else  could  they  be,  for  every  foot  of  ground  v/as 
occupied.  They  sang,  and  prayed,  and  shouted  until  the  old  school  house 
was  lit  up  with  divine  glory.  Some  of  our  old  people  who  still  linger  on  the 
shores  of  time  love  to  speak  of  those  old  school  house  revivals,  which  are  so 
many  bright  spots  in  their  memories.  Now  the  commodious  and  beautiful 
church  has  supplanted  the  old  school  house,  and  w^e  should  appreciate  the 
change.  The  facilities  for  the  holding  of  religious  services  have  been  wonder- 
fully improved  in  the  passing  years,  and  we  ought  to  be  a  very  godly  and  de- 
vout people  and  intensely  aggressive  in  every  good  w^ork.  With  these  better 
facilities,  larger  and  better  equipment  and  ampler  opportunities  come  in- 
creased responsibility.  A  law^yer  made  some  remarks  to  us  some  years  ago 
when  speaking  of  a  church  of  which  he  claimed  to  be  a  member,  w^hich 
greatly  impressed  us.  He  said:  "We  have  an  elegant  church  edifice,  w^ith 
stained  glass  and  cushioned  pews ;  w^e  have  a  large,  w^ealthy  and  influential 
congregation,  a  large  pipe  organ,  a  splendid  choir,  a  learned  and  eloquent 
preacher,  who  preaches  two  sermons  every  Sunday  and  lectures  during  the 
w^eek.  Yes,  w^e've  plenty  of  church,  but  not  much  religion. "  How^  true  !  Paul 
vs^rites  to  Timothy  concerning  the  "  perilous  times  "  to  come,  when  he  writes 
that  men  shall  be  selfish,  covetous,  proud,  disobedient,  unholy,  heady,  high- 
minded,  "  lovers  of  pleasure  rather  than  lovers  of  God ;  having  the  form  of 
godliness,  but  denying  the  power  thereof."  Our  early  fathers  tried  to  promote 
true^spiritual  life  among  the  people,  and  their  successors,  to  be  w^orthy  of  the 
name,  are  commissioned  of  God  to  perpetuate  the  w^ork  they  commenced. 

Several  conferences  were  held  among  the  brethren  in  the  early  years  "  to 
consider  in  what  manner  they  might  be  more  useful."  The  first  of  these  was 
held  in  Mr.  Otterbein's  parsonage  in  Baltimore,  Md.,  in  1  789,  and  the  second 
was  held  in  Paradise  Township,  York  County,  in  1  79  1 ,  at  the  house  of  John 
Spangler,  who  was  the  grandfather  of  Mrs.  D.  W.  Crider,  of  York.  This 
Spangler  dw^elling  w^as  located  about  eight  miles  w^est  of  York,  was  about 
25  X  35  feet  in  size,  and  although  it  was  probably  one  hundred  and  fifty  years 
old,  it  remained  standing  as  an  old  landmark  until  only  a  few  years  ago. 
John  Spangler  was  a  large  land-owner,  a  substantial  citizen  and  was  deeply 
in  sympathy  with  the  revival  movement.  In  church  connection  he  and  his 
family  were  German  Reformed,  but  they  had  been  swept  in  with  the  current 
of  the  great  revival,  and  they  gladly  opened  their  doors  to  a  conference  of 
ministers  who  were  to  counsel  with  one  another  how  best  to  promote  the 
work  begun  by  them.  What  a  gathering  that  conference  was !  The  follow- 
ing preachers  were  in    attendance  :   Revs.  William    Otterbein,  Martin   Boehm, 


UNITED     BRETHREN     CHURCH 


153 


G.  A.  Geeting,  Christian  Newcomer,  John  Ernst,  J.  G.  Pfrimmer,  John  Neidig, 
Benedict  Sanders  and  Adam  Lehman.  It  meant  much  for  these  fathers  to 
come  distances  which  required  many  days 
of  hard  travel  to  be  present  at  this  meeting. 
The  follow^ing  brethren  were,  for  various 
reasons,  prevented  from  attending :  Revs. 
Henry  Weidner,  Henry  Baker,  Martin 
Crider,  F.  Shaffer,  Christopher  Grosh,  A. 
Troxal,  Christian  Crum,  G.  Fortenbach,  D. 
Strickler,  J.  Hershey,  Simon  Herr,  J.  Hantz 
and  Benjamin  Swope.  Thus  we  find  that 
twenty-two  names  constituted  the  hst  of 
ministers  in  the  church  at  this  time.  The 
business  of  the  conference  was  soon  at- 
tended to,  and  much  of  the  time  was  spent  Spangler  s  House 
in  preaching,  exhorting,  singing,  praying  and  relating  their  Christian  exper- 
ience. After  mature  deliberations  as  to  how  they  might  labor  most  usefully 
in  the  vineyard  of  the  Lord,  they  again  appointed  as  fellow-laborers  such  as 
they  had  come  to  believe  had  experienced  true  religion  in  their  souls.  No 
formal  conference  was  again  held  until  the  year  1  800,  when  it  met  at  Peter 
Kemp's,  the  ministers  meanwhile  preaching  here  and  there  according  to  plans 
agreed  upon  at  the  various  great  meetings.  The  appointment  at  Spangler's 
was  kept  up  as  a  regular  preaching  place  until  November  5,  1827,  the  occa- 
sion of  Mr.  Newcomer's  last  visit. 

The  preachers  for  years  traveled  their  charges  without  any  very  definite 
boundary  lines  to  them,  such  as  were  made  later  under  the  careful  delibera- 
tions of  a  regular  boundary  committee.  The  old  charges  were  almost  bound- 
less in  their  scope. 


YORK    CIRCUIT 

The  first  charge  in  the  county  that  was  constituted  by  the  annual  confer- 
ence with  definite  boundary  lines  was  known  as  "York  Circuit."  It  was 
formed  at  the  annual  conference  of  1824,  and  Rev.  John  Brown  was  ap- 
pointed as  its  first  pastor,  who  served  it  three  years.  Father  John  Strayer,  of 
near  Winterstown,  who  died  only  a  few  years  ago  as  the  oldest  member  of 
this  circuit,  and  who  was  possibly  longer  a  member  of  the  church  than  any 
other  person  in  the  county,  outlined  the  boundary  lines  of  this  old  charge  to 
me  as  follows:  "Beginning  at  Wormleysburg,  opposite  Harrisburg,  up  the 
valley  to  Carlisle,  then  across  the  mountain  into  Perry  county,  then  back  into 
the  Cumberland  valley,  up  as  far  as  Chambersburg,  then  across  two  moun- 
tains, taking  in  Path  and  Horse  Valleys,  back  again  out  of  the  valley  to  Green- 
casde  and  Hagerstown,  Md.,  across  another  mountain  to  Frederick,  Md.,  then 
eastward  through  Adams  county,  then  through  York  county  to  the  place  of  begin- 
ning."    Just  how   many   hundred    miles   a   preacher  would  have  to  travel  to 


154  LANDMARK     HISTORY    OF    THE 

make  one  round  on  this  circuit,  we  could  not  now  say ;  but  those  who  know 
the  Unes  or  route,  as  above  given,  need  not  be  told  that  it  was  large  enough 
to  satisfy  the  most  ambitious  circuit  rider  of  those  primitive  or  of  these  modern 
times.  The  preachers  on  this  circuit  were  expected  to  preach  every  evening 
during  the  week  and  two  or  three  times  on  Sunday,  and  often  once  or  twice 
during  week-days.  They  were  expected  to  adapt  themselves  to  an  almost 
infinite  variety  of  exposure  and  toil,  and  yet  they  lived,  rejoiced  in  their 
labors  in  the  Lord  and  enjoyed  a  moderate  share  of  health.  Rev.  John  Brown 
and  his  successors  on  this  large  charge  were  no  mere  novices  in  the  pulpit. 
They  found  time  for  study,  meditation  and  prayer.  They  were  men  of  fine 
pulpit  ability.  Their  Bibles  were  their  daily  companions,  and  they  read  and 
studied  them  as  they  rode  their  horses  and  as  they  sat  at  the  humble  firesides 
of  their  people.  They  were  men  of  one  book  and  they  familiarized  them- 
selves with  its  precious  contents. 

This  old  circuit  shrunk  in  its  dimensions  from  year  to  year  as  other  pas- 
toral charges  were  formed  out  of  it.  But  for  many  years  it  w^as  a  large  field. 
In  1848,  when  Revs.  S.  Enterline  and  W.  B.  Raber  traveled  it  the  following  is  a 
list  of  its  appointments :  Ehrhart's  Paper  Mill,  Jacob  Allison's,  Jacob  Se- 
christ's,  Heindel's,  John  Gabel's,  John  Sechrist's,  Zion  Church,  Seitz's,  StefTey's, 
Beecher's,  Bachman's,  Thomas',  Meckley  s,  Zech's,  John  Spatz's,  John  Daugh- 
erty's,  Littlestown,  Green's  Church,  P.  B.  Hoffman's  Paper  Mill,  "Mud  Col- 
lege, "  and  Winterstown. 

The  second  pastor  of  York  Circuit  was  Rev.  John  Kroch  or  Grogg,  w^ho 
vv^as  appointed  in  1827,  and  who  traveled  it  two  years.  To  the  first  two 
pastors  of  this  circuit  the  church  is  much  indebted  for  laying  broad  and  deep 
the  foundations  of  a  strong  and  prosperous  community  of  United  Brethren  in 
the  southeastern  section  of  this  county,  where  we  now  have  eleven  churches 
and  as  many  thriving  congregations  within  three  and  one-half  miles  from 
Dallastown  as  a  center. 

During  the  first  year  of  Brother  Kroch's  pastorate  a  camp-meeting  was 
held  in  Lew^is  Hartman's  grove,  located  about  tw^o  miles  southw^est  of  Dallas- 
town.  It  commenced  in  the  middle  of  August,  1827,  and  lasted  one  w^eek. 
Revs.  Christian  Newcomer,  John  Brown,  John  Snyder  and  John  Kroch  were 
possibly  the  only  ministers  who  attended  it,  and  who  did  the  preaching. 
Some  of  the  people  of  the  community  behaved  themselves  very  badly  at  this 
meeting,  but  it  was  a  great  success  in  the  salvation  of  souls.  During  the  night 
some  of  the  stoves  w^ere  upset  or  carried  away  some  distance  ;  some  of  the 
stove  plates  were  stolen  and  other  things  on  the  grounds  were  disarranged. 
These  particulars  we  secured  from  Mrs.  Lydia  Spatz,  a  daughter  of  Lewis 
Hartman,  who  had  tented  with  her  parents  at  this  meeting  when  she  was 
nineteen  years  of  age.  She  died  a  few^  years  ago  when  quite  old.  Rev. 
Samuel  Huber,  in  his  Autobiography,  relates  the  following  as  having  occurred 
at  this  camp-meeting  and  as  it  was  told  him  by  Mr.  Newcomer  himself:  "At 
one  time  during  the  continuance  of  the  camp,  the  wicked  threatened  to  storm 
the  camp  in  the  night.     Toward  evening  they  began  to  collect  in  great  crowds. 


UNITED    BRETHREN     CHURCH 


155 


armed  with  bludgeons  and  other  offensive  weapons,  making  great  threats  and 
menaces  against  the  tent-holders.  Amongst  the  professors  of  religion  on 
the  grounds  might  have  been  seen  those  who  make  great  pretentions  to  faith 
and  trust  in  Providence  when  no  danger  was  near ;  there  were  also  some 
praying  people  whose  trust  and  faith  in  a  superintending  Providence  became 
strengthened  in  time  of  danger.  These,  seeing  the  camp  surrounded  and 
threatened  in  this  hostile  manner,  betook  themselves  to  prayer,  looking  to  the 
Lord  for  help." 

"Toward  evening,  just  about  the  time  the  Amalekites  w^ere  preparing  for 
the  assault,  dark  clouds  were  seen  slowly  rising  above  the  horizon ;  thunders 
were  heard  rolling  in  the  distance  ;  piles  of  clouds,  swiftly  propelled  forward 
by  an  invisible  force,  came  rolling  over  each  other  and  obscured  the  heavens 
from  view ;  palpable  darkness  covered  the  camp  ;  and  then,  as  if  a  match  had 
been  applied  to  a  fiery  element,  peals  of  thunder  shot  forth  from  the  clouds 
above  ;  immense  flashes  of  lightning  glared  throughout  the  camp  ;  meteors, 
like  large  fire-balls,  falling  from  the  zenith  to  the  earth,  and  carried  by  a 
mighty  whirlwind,  rolled  and  flew  to  and  fro  over  the  ground,  and  over  the 
people,  and  through  some  of  the  tents,  and  went  far  off  into  the  w^oods.  It 
appeared  as  if  the  battlements  of  heaven  had  opened,  sending  its  elements 
down  in  successive  streams  of  fire.  The  scene  lasted  over  one  hour,  during 
which  time  the  wicked  became  so  much  alarmed  that  by  rapid  movements 
they  cleared  themselves  from  the  ground.  After  this  phenomenon  had  sub- 
sided, and  no  one  was  hurt  by  it,  the  meeting  went  on  w^ithout  further  dis- 
turbance." 

As  Mr.  Newcomer  was  leaving  the  ground,  and  while  on  his  way  to  York, 
some  persons  said  to  him  :  "You  can  now  see  that  your  camp-meetings  are 
wrong,  and  God  sent  his  fire  among  your  people  to  destroy  the  camp.  But 
Mr.  Newcomber  replied :  "God  was  our  guard  and  sent  his  thunder  and 
lightning  to  prevent  the  wicked  from  doing  us 
injury. '  This  seemed  to  be  the  truth  in  the 
case. 

Mrs.  Lydia  Spatz  said  that  a  number  of 
those  w^ho  had  come  to  disturb  the  meetings 
found  shelter  in  a  large  tent  during  the 
storm.  This  tent  was  used  that  night  in  the 
holding  of  services,  and  here  some  of  them 
gave  their  hearts  and  lives  to  God.  The 
converts  who  were  w^on  to  Christ  at  this  meet- 
ing, and  those  of  previous  years,  became  the 
nucleus  of  the  United  Brethren  Church  in  this 
section  of  the  county. 

Under  the  preaching  of  the  Word  of  God 


^_^^ 


at  this  camp-meeting  the  Lord  found  an  open  Rev.  John  Haney 

door  to  the  heart  of  John  Haney,  who  afterward  became  an  active  and  most 

useful    minister    of    the    gospel.     After    the  camp-meeting    had     ended    he 


156  LANDMARK     HISTORY     OFTHE 

continued  to  seek  the  Lord  at  home  in  his  father's  house,  near  Winters- 
town,  and  after  a  long  struggle  he  experienced  the  joys  of  salvation. 
Up  to  this  time  John  Haney  belonged  to  the  German  Reformed  Church. 
John  Strayer  and  Adam  Strayer,  of  this  neighborhood,  were  also  converted 
to  God  at  about  this  time.  They  were  members  of  the  Lutheran  Church. 
After  Mr.  Haney's  experience  of  saving  grace  he  commenced  to  hold  prayer- 
meetings  in  his  father's  house  and  in  the  houses  of  his  neighbors,  which 
the  Strayers  and  many  others  attended.  These  meetings  were  seasons  of 
refreshing  from  the  presence  of  the  Lord  and  through  them  many  souls 
were  won  to  Christ.  But  these  services  also  stirred  up  a  spirit  of  opposition 
and  persecution,  which  came  chiefly  from  the  formal  church  members  of 
the  community,  as  well  as  from  some  outside  elements.  The  first  person  that 
was  converted  at  these  meetings  was  Andrew  Haney,  John  Haney's  oldest 
brother.     All  this  occurred  in   1827. 

WINTERSTOWN    CHURCH 

In  1828  the  persecutions  of  these  "prayer-meeting  people,"  coming  from 
the  unspiritual  elements  in  the  churches  to  which  quite  a  number  of  the  con- 
verts belonged,  became  so  intolerable  that  they  withdrew  from  them,  and  they 
with  others,  invited  Rev.  John  Kroch  to  organize  them  into  a  United  Brethren 
class  or  church,  which  he  did.  The  following  are  the  charter  members  of 
this  church  :  John  Haney,  leader;  Lewis  Haney  and  his  wife,  Peter  Haney 
and  his  wife,  John  Strayer  and  his  wife,  and  their  four  daughters  ;  Christiana 
Strayer,  who  afterward  married  Isaac  Hershey  ;  Lydia  Strayer,  who  married 
Henry  Fry,  Polly  Strayer,  who  married  Daniel  Swords,  Eliza  Strayer,  who 
married  Jacob  Shires ;  Adam  Strayer  and  his  wife,  and  their  two  daughters  ; 
"Widow  Winters  and  her  two  daughters,  and  Jacob  Crumbling.  This  church 
has  enjoyed  a  continuous  and  prosperous  existence  up  to  the  present  time, 
and  is  known  as  the  Winterstown  Church.  These  particulars  we  received  in 
the  main  from  David  Strayer,  of  near  Winterstown,  who  personally  knew 
every  preacher  on  this  old  circuit  from  Mr.  Brown's  pastorate  up  to  1900, 
whose  father  was  a  charter  member  of  this  church.  Letters  from  Rev.  John 
Haney,  in  the  writer's  possession,  confirm  the  facts  as  here  given.  This  brother 
was  very  useful  in  his  long,  active  ministry,  dying  in  Marion,  Minn.,  Novem- 
bers, 1904,  at  the  age  of  ninety-seven  years,  six  months  and  twenty-eight  days. 

Revs.  John  Brown  and  John  Kroch  were  both  strong  men,  accomplishing 
great  things  for  God  and  were  well  liked  by  the  people.  The  Pennsylvania 
Germans  pronounced  Kroch's  name  Grogg.  An  old  toper  in  the  community, 
being  asked  which  of  the  two  preachers  he  liked  best,  replied  promptly,  "I 
like  Grogg  the  best." 

In  1  828,  under  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  John  Kroch,  another  camp-meeting  was 
held  on  Lewis  Haney's  land.  There  were  only  eight  tents,  but  there  were 
many  conversions  reported.  In  1829  another  meeting  was  held  on  Adam 
Strayer's  land.     Here  there  were  thirty  tents  and  some  conversions  were  also 


UNITED     BRETHREN     CHURCH 


157 


reported.  "^  It  is  said  that  Rev.  Benjamin  Speck,  the  father  of  Rev.  D.  Speck, 
"conducted  the  first  camp-meeting  held  by  the  church."  There  were  two 
preachers,  Revs.  Benjamin  Speck  and  John  R.  Evans,  and  two  tents.  At  this 
camp-meeting  there  were  sixty  conversions.  Rev.  John  Eckstein,  who  en- 
joyed the  reputation  of  being  a  sweet  singer,  was  the  pastor  of  the  circuit 
at  this  time.  Other  camp-meetings  were  held  in  this  community,  which  were 
no  great 
affairs,  a  s 
manymod- 
e  r  n  out- 
door gath- 
erings are 
called,  but 
w^hich  w^ere 
a  great  suc- 
cess in  one 
particular 
at  least,  in 
thatof  win- 
ning souls 
to  Christ. 
These 
me  etings 
resulted  in 
adding 
strength  to 

the         VC^in-  Winteistown  Old  Church 

terstown  congregation.  The  members  of  our  church  in  Winterstown  and 
community  continued  to  worship  for  many  years  in  the  houses  and  barns  of 
the  Haneys,  Strayers,  Flinchbaughs,  Grimms  and  others.  They  also  wor- 
shiped in  Stabley's  or  Zion  Church,  which  was  built  in  1843,  but  this  was 
located  about  three  miles  aw^ay.  There  are  still  some  persons  living  here  who 
tell  the  story  of  their  conversion  in  the  great  meetings  that  w^ere  held  in  one 
or  other  of  these  old  houses  or  barns.  In  1868  our  people  here  decided  to 
build  a  house  ofw^orship.  A  board  of  trustees  was  chosen  as  follows:  John 
Strayer,  A.  E.  Fulton  and  Granville  Jackson.  The  site  selected  for  the  church 
was  the  old  Householder  burying  ground.  Alongside  of  this  graveyard  they 
bought  an  additional  plot  of  ground  from  John  Breneman  for  $25.  The  date 
of  the  deed  is  November  28,  1868.  Rev.  Peter  Corl  was  then  pastor  of  the 
circuit,  and  under  his  leadership  a  brick  church  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  about 
$2,000.  The  corner-stone  was  laid  by  Rev.  John  Sand,  and  the  church  was 
dedicated  to  God  November  29,  1868,  by  Bishop  J.  J.  Glossbrenner,  D.D.,  as- 
sisted by  Rev.  W.  B.  Raber. 

The  boundary  lines  of  the  circuit   to  which   Winterstown  belonged  were 


■ 

^^^^^. 

r 

f"^  ,^'^^BkKKBi 

^M 

h. 

""^■^^ 

^H 

158  LANDMARK     HISTORY    OF    THE 

often  changed.  In  1884  Winterstown,  Mt.  Olivet,  Zion,  Union  and  Pleasant 
Grove  were  formed  into  Winterstown  Circuit.  Some  time  after  this  Red 
Lion  was  added  to  the  circuit.  Since  then  Union  became  what  is  now  Wind- 
sor Station.  Red  Lion  also  became  a  station,  and  Adamsville  was  added  to 
Winterstown  Circuit.  The  charge  is  now  composed  of  five  churches,  as  fol- 
lows: Winterstown,  Zion,  Mt.  Olivet,  Pleasant  Grove  and  Adamsville,  and  is 
know^n  as  Red  Lion  Circuit. 

The  old  church,  repaired,  enlarged  and  improved  as  it  was  from  time  to 
time,  at  last  had  served  its  day.  It  became  necessary  to  erect  a  new^  and 
larger  building.  Early  in  1898  the  pastor.  Rev.  D.  R.  Wagner,  by  the  help  of 
his  devoted  people,  named  the  following  committee:  W.  L.  Mitzel,  J.  E.  Zel- 
lers,  D.  D.  Grove,  Frank  Breneman  and  Oscar  Grove,  to  decide  on  a  site  for 
the  new  church.  They  decided  that  the  new  church  should  be  located  on  the 
main  road  leading  from  York  toward  Baltimore.  The  site  they  selected  is  a 
beautiful,  elevated  spot  on  the  west  side  of  the  road,  opposite  the  old  Mitzel 
homestead  at  the  northern  end  of  Winterstown.  On  March  9,  1908,  ground 
was  broken  by  the  pastor  following  a  short  religious  service.  The  corner- 
stone was  laid  June  14,  1908,  by  Rev.  W.  H.  Washinger,  D.D.,  presiding 
elder  of  the  conference,  assisted  by  Revs.  D.  R.  Wagner,  A.  R.  Ayers,  L.  Walter 
Lutz,  E.  L.  Hughes,  of  our  church,  and  Rev.  J.  H.  Maice,  of  the  United  Evangelical 
Church.  The  following  are  the  trustees  who  so  nobly  co-operated  with  the 
pastor  in  bringing  the  new^  church  edifice  to  such  a  happy  completion  :  Elias 
Grimm,  F.  M.  Breneman,  J.  E.  Zellers,  W.  L.  Mitzel,  W.  O.  Grove,  and  D.  G- 
Grove. 

The  new^  church  is  a  model  in  every  respect.  It  is  built  of  red  shale 
brick,  w^ith  white  mortar  and  white  concrete  trimming.  The  large  tower  is 
fifty-six  feet  high,  with  stone  coping,  and  contains  a  fine  McShane  bell.  The 
auditorium  is  36  x  40  feet,  writh  inclined  floor,  pulpit  recess,  choir  loft  and 
semi-circular  pews.  The  Sunday  School  room  is  25x35  feet,  with  rolling 
partition.  All  the  windows  are  of  leaded  glass,  two  of  them  being  9x18  feet 
in  size.  The  building  is  heated  with  a  furnace,  and  well  lighted  with  gas.  It 
is  one  of  the  finest  and  most  commodious  country  churches  for  the  money  in 
the  state.  The  entire  cost  of  the  church  was  $9,048.79,  all  of  which  was  se- 
cured prior  to  and  at  the  dedication  services  except  $980.16,  which  was 
assumed  by  the  trustees.  It  was  dedicated  to  God  on  Sunday,  April  25,  1909, 
by  Rev.  W.  H.  Washinger,  D.D.,  assisted  by  Revs.  J.  A.  Shettel,  E.  L.  Hughes^ 
L.  W.  Lutz,  A.  N.  Horn,  J.  E.  Kleffman,  D.D.,  of  our  church,  and  Rev.  R.  S. 
Edris,  of  Red  Lion  German  Reformed  Church. 

The  church  membership  numbers  eighty-nine.  The  congregation  is  rich 
in  the  Master's  work,  but  poor  in  this  world's  goods  with  several  exceptions. 
They  abound  in  hospitality  and  in  faith.  It  is  a  great  victory  for  this  small 
membership  with  the  aid  of  their  friends  to  achieve.  The  first  revival  cam- 
paign that  was  held  in  the  new  church  was  a  great  victory  for  God  and  the 
congregation,  in  the  conversion  of  11  9  souls  and  in  nearly  as  many  accessions 
to  the  church. 


UNITED     BRETHREN    CHURCH 


159 


The  following  is  a  list  of  the  pastors  of  York  Circuit,  including  the  Win- 
terstown  Church,  from  1824  to  1884,  covering  a  period  of  sixty  years : 
Revs.  John 
Brown, 
1  824-25- 

26;  John 
K  r  o  c  h  , 

1827  -  28; 

John  Eck- 
stein, 1829; 
James  Nei- 
m  a  n  and 
John  Han- 
ey,  1830; 
Jacob  Erb, 
(?)  1831; 
George 
H  u  s  s  e  y  , 
18  3  2; 
Ch  ristian 
S  c  h  o  p  p  , 
1833;  Ja- 
cob Fel- 
mole  and 
John  Rath- 
fang,  1834; 
George 
Miller  and 
Jacob 
R  o  o  p  , 
1835;  Geo. 
Miller, 
1836;  John 

Ha    n   e    y,  Winterstown  New  Church 

1837-38;  Adam  Noon,  1839;  Jacob  Scholler  and  John  Heltzel,  1840; 
Samuel  Seiders,  1  84 1  ;  Jacob  Winger,  1842;  C.  S.  Crider,  1843;  C.  S.  Crider 
and  WilHam  Wagner,  1844;  William  Wagner,  1845  ;  Samuel  Enterline,  1846- 
47;  Samuel  Enterline  and  W.  B.  Raber,  1848;  George  Schneider  and  T.  F- 
Hallowell,  1849;  George  Schneider  and  F.  Grimm,  1850;  F.  Grimm  and  I. 
Coombs,  1851  ;  Tobias  Crider,  1852;  H.  Greenblade  and  A.  Tripner,  1853; 
N.  Altman,  a  converted  Jew,  1854  ;  J.  Cline  and  J.  W.  Burd,  1855  ;  F.  Grimm 
and  H.  Brown,  1856-57;  J.  S.  Wentz  and  J.  B.  Jones,  1858:  J.  S.  Wentz,  1859- 
60;  H.  Brown  and  J.  G.  Clair,  1861  ;  S.  Enterline,  1862-63-64-65;  W.  H. 
Craumer  and  John  F.  Smith,  1866;  J.  H.  Young,  1867;  Peter  Corl,  1868-69; 
Peter  Corl  and  A.  H.  Rice,  1870;  John  Garman,   1871  ;  A.  Tripner,    1872-73  ; 


160  LANDMARK    HISTORY    OF    THE 

W.  H.  Craumer.  1874-75-76-77;  G.  W.  Lightner,    1878-79-80-81;  L.  Kohr, 
1882;   L.  Kohr  and  A.  Dunkleberger,   1883-84. 

At  the  conference  of  1884,  Winterstown  Circuit  was  formed,  and  the 
following  pastors  have  served  Winterstown  Church  since  that  time  :  Revs.  J. 
C.  Smith,  1884:  L.  Kohr,  1885;  G.  W.  Kiracofe,  1886-87;  William  Hesse, 
1888,  w^ho  resigned  and  J.  B.  Jones  and  D.  Barshinger  served  it  that  year; 
William  Quigley,  1891;  J.  T.  Knapp,  1892:  W.  H.  Young,  1893-94;  J.  W. 
Grimm,  1895-96-97;  J.  W.  Houseman.  1898;  W.  M.  Quigley,  1899-00;  J.  A. 
Shettel,  1901-02-03-04-05;  D.  R.Wagner,  1906-07-08-09—. 

STABLEY'S    CHURCH 

Winterstown  class  is  the  oldest  class  in  the  county.  Stabley's  or  Zion 
Church  is  the  first  church  that  our  people  built  in  the  county.  Before  the 
church  'was  erected  here  our  people  w^orshiped  in  private  houses,  at  Adam 
Stabley's,  who  lived  a  iew  hundred  yards  west  of  where  the  church  stands  ; 
also  at  John  Smiegh's,  and  at  the  Grimms'.  The  church  w^as  built  in  1843  on 
Adam  Stabley's  land,  principally  by  Mr.  Stabley  himself  and  his  neighbors. 
After  the  church  was  completed  the  following  brethren  were  elected  trustees 
of  the  church  October  23,  1843:  Frederick  Grove,  Levi  Neff  and  Charles 
Neff.  At  this  conference  it  was  decided  to  name  it  "Zion  Church.  "  The  lot, 
containing  107  perches,  with  the  church  upon  it,  w^as  then  bought  by  these 
trustees  June  1,  1844,  for  the  sum  of  $2.00.  The  church  was  a  frame  build- 
ing and  vv^as  dedicated  to  God  by  Rev.  John  Russell,  presiding  elder. 

During  the  summer  of  1881  this  church  was  torn  down  and  a  new  one 
vv^as  built  in  its  place  under  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  G.  W.  Lightner.  The  pastor 
drew  the  plans  for  thenew^  building  and  superintended  its  erection.  It  vv^as 
built  of  the  best  material  and  has  a  slate  roof.  It  was  dedicated  to  God  Sep- 
tember 11,  1881,  by  Rev.  D.  D.  DeLong,  D.D.,  President  of  Lebanon  Valley 
College,  assisted  by  Rev.  C.  T.  Stearn,  D.D.,  and  Rev.  E.  Light.  During  the  year 
1895,  the  church  vv^as  thoroughly  repaired,  repainted  inside  and  outside,  fur- 
nished with  new  carpet,  lamps  and  pulpit.  A  tower  seventy  feet  high  was 
also  built  to  its  front,  and  a  good  bell  was  placed  upon  it,  all  at  a  cost  of 
$600.  Rev.  J.  W.  Grimm  w^as  the  pastor  then.  The  church  w^as  reopened 
November  10,  1895,  by  Rev.  C.  A.  Burtner,  Ph.D.,  presiding  elder,  assisted  by 
the  pastor. 

A  small  log  parsonage  was  also  built  by  the  side  of  the  church  about  the 
year  1850.  It  was  very  small  and  had  a  very  low  ceiling,  so  low  that  when 
one  of  the  preachers  moved  into  it  he  had  to  saw  a  part  of  the  legs  of  his 
bedsteads  off  to  enable  him  to  set  them  up.  It  w^as  torn  dow^n  some  years 
ago,  and  the  pastors  of  the  charge  now  live  in  Red  Lion. 

Many  of  the  fathers  of  this  church  have  gone  to  their  long  home  and 
their  remains  lie  buried  in  the  adjoining  graveyard,  but  their  descendants  are 
still  with  us  and  are  filled  with  the  same  zeal  and  piety  that  made  their 
fathers  the  heroes  of  their  day.     No  one  man  among  them  all,  how^ever,  stands 


UNITED    BRETHREN    CHURCH  161 

forth  so  prominently  as  does  Rev.  Frederick  Flinchbaugh,  whose  long  and 
useful  life  merits  more  than  a  mere  allusion.  He  worshiped  at  the  Union 
Lutheran  and  German  Reformed  Church,  located  several  miles  east  of  Zion 
Church,  and  was  a  member  of  one  of  these  congregations.  He  led  the  sing- 
ing in  this  church  for  many  years,  and  all  who  knew  him  called  him  a  Chris- 
tian, as  Christians  were  rated  in  the  neighborhood.  Nor  was  he  of  a  differ- 
ent opinion.  He  did  try  hard  to  be  good.  He  enjoyed  the  confidence  of 
his  preacher  and  of  his  fellow  church-members,  as  his  life  among  them  was 
above  reproach. 

But  something  happened  and  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord  arrested  him  in  his 
career.  It  was  the  custom  in  the  community  to  have  corn-husking  parties, 
after  the  corn  had  been  gathered  in  from  the  fields.  On  such  occasions  the 
neighbors  w^ere  usually  invited  to  spend  an  evening  at  the  husking,  and  after 
a  certain  amount  of  work  had  been  done,  a  great  supper  would  be  ready, 
when  all  the  buskers  would  be  invited  to  partake  before  leaving  for  their 
homes.  To  such  a  husking  Mr.  Flinchbaugh  went.  He  failed  to  get  to  the 
first  table.  While  waiting  for  his  turn  a  party  in  an  adjoining  room  were 
making  merry  with  a  violin.  He  listened  for  a  while,  but  he  became  uneasy, 
and  moved  by  some  impulse  that  seemed  almost  irresistable,  he  left  and 
went  home.  He  could  not  sleep  that  night.  The  music  of  that  "fiddle" 
and  the  merry-making  noises  of  the  people  w^ere  in  his  ears  all  night.  He 
arose  in  the  morning  with  a  feeling  of  sadness.  And  yet  he  could  hardly  tell 
why  he  was  depressed.  He  had  often  been  present  before  when  such  music 
and  enjoyments  were  had.  An  arrow  had  pierced  his  heart,  and  he  knew^  it 
not  as  of  the  Lord.  Soon  after  this  a  violent  disease  broke  out  in  his  family, 
and  in  a  short  time  carried  two  of  his  children  to  the  grave.  He  now^  became 
greatly  concerned  for  the  salvation  of  his  soul.  For  many  years  he  had  been 
"fore-singer"  (leader  of  song)  in  his  church,  w^as  a  member  of  it  in  good 
standing,  but  he  had  great  unrest  within.  How  to  find  rest  he  knew  not,  nor 
w^as  there  any  one  in  all  the  neighborhood,  not  even  his  pastor,  who  could 
give  him  the  proper  counsel  at  this  time.  He  earnestly  sought  God  in  prayer 
for  direction  and  deliverance.  After  a  long  struggle  he  was  led  into  the 
glorious  liberty  of  the  people  of  God.  His  conversion  v/as  clear  and  pow^er- 
ful.  This  w^as  so  new  in  his  community,  and  to  him  so  satisfying,  that  he  felt 
a  strong  motive  w^ithin  him  to  tell  his  neighbors  and  friends  about  it.  When 
by  himself  working  in  the  fields  he  would  tell  the  story  of  his  salvation  to  im- 
aginary audiences.  Thus  the  spirit  of  God  w^as  gradually  leading  him  into 
the  Christian  ministry.  He  began  his  w^ork  with  the  holding  of  prayer-meet- 
ings, where  he  took  the  liberty  to  read  a  portion  of  scripture  and  give  an  ex- 
hortation. Invitations  for  such  services  in  the  houses  of  his  neighbors  show^ed 
that  his  work  w^as  taking  effect.  His  heart-stirring  w^ords  on  these  occasions 
revealed  the  nature  of  the  pent-up  fires  in  his  own  heart.  Having  gained  con- 
fidence in  himself  and  God,  he  gave  the  gospel  trumpet  no  uncertain  sound. 
He  knew  everybody  in  the  community.  The  evil  ways  and  the  godless  lives 
of  the  people  w^ere  no  secret  to  him.     He  laid  bare  their  w^ickedness,  held  up 


162 


LANDMARK    HISTORY    OF    THE 


their  sins  before  their  eyes  and  exhorted  them  with  all  tenderness  of  heart 
and  often  with  his  eyes  streaming  with  tears,  to  repent  and  turn  to  Christ  for 
salvation. 

"Truth  from  his  lips  prevailed  with  double  sway. 
And  fools  who  came  to  scoff,  remained  to  pray.  " 

The  results  of  these  earnest  and  faithful  efforts  were  soon  apparent.  The 
Haneys,  the  Strayers,  the  Stableys,  the  Smieghs,  the  Grimms,  and  many  others 
were  converted  to  God,  and  identified  themselves  with  the  revival  movement. 
These  prayer-meetings,  which  were  an  unexpected  innovation  on  the 
settled  methods  of  the  neighborhood,  were  held  form  house  to  house,  and  the 
walking  of  a  distance  of  from  two  to  six  miles  to  these  gatherings  was  a  mat- 
ter only  to  be  lightly  considered.  "Brother 
Flinchbaugh,  taking  his  perforated  lantern, 
with  a  stub  of  tallow-candle,  v/ould  call  every- 
body old  and  strong  enough,  to  him,  and  then 
through  woods,  underbrush,  over  rocks  and 
hills,  w^ould  lead  them  to  prayer-meeting,  re- 
gardless of  the  toil  in  the  summer  or  the  cold 
of  the  w^inter.  Such  devotion  can  not  fail  to 
win.  These  meetings  were  attended  w^ith 
about  the  usual  outw^ard  demonstrations  of 
shoutings,  clapping  of  hands  and  leaping  for 
joy.  Such  a  departure  from  the  regular  meth- 
ods of  worship  as  conducted  in  the  church 
had  the  double  effect  of  drawing  the  people 
to  see  and  hear,  as  also  of  stirring  up  opposi- 
tion." The  leaven  of  revival  by  this  time 
pretty  thoroughly  permeated  the  community,  so  that  many  were  not  slow^  to 
express  a  preference  for  the  meetings  held  after  this  fashion  than  for  the 
services  in  the  church.  This  gave  rise  to  warm  discussion  among  the  several 
adherents.  During  all  this  time  Brother  Flinchbaugh  was  still  the  leader  of 
the  singing  in  the  church,  in  which  he  had  v/orshiped  from  his  youth.  His 
revival  services,  in  common  w^ith  all  reform  movements,  awakened  active  op- 
position. But  he  w^as  one  who  could  meet  his  neighbors  in  friendly  discus- 
sion and  prove  by  scripture  that  his  views  and  practices  harmonized  with  the 
Word  of  God.  Being  defeated  in  argument  by  the  superior  wisdom  of 
Brother  Flinchbaugh,  they  finally  prevailed  on  the  preacher  to  take  the  con- 
troversy into  the  pulpit,  and  silence  these  troublesome  people.  "Accordingly 
on  a  Sabbath  morning,  after  the  introductory  services,  the  pastor  arose  and 
announced  that  in  all  probability  he  would  preach  longer  this  morning  than 
usual,  but  they  should  have  patience  and  hear  him,  as  he  had  a  special  sub- 
ject to  bring  before  the  congregation.  He  at  once  entered  into  the  subject 
and  began  to  denounce  all  revival  effort,  and  especially  the  noise  and  shout- 
ing that  w^as  tolerated  in  such  meetings.  While  he  w^as  striking  out  w^ith  vehe- 
mence  Brother   Flinchbaugh   arose,    and  with    his   trumpet  voice    said  to  the 


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Rev.  F.  Flinchbaugh 


UNITEDBRETHREN    CHURCH  163 

preacher,  'Ei  der  Heiland  gebiet  es  jo'  (vs^hy,  the  Lord  commanded  it  so)" 
The  preacher  seemed  confused,  stammered  out  a  few  words,  and  abruptly 
closed  the  services.  The  unusually  long  sermon  ended  in  about  ten  or  fifteen 
minutes. " 

About  this  time  it  became  apparent  that  to  maintain  their  spiritual  life 
they  must  sever  their  connection  w^ith  the  church  of  their  early  choice  and 
identify  themselves  vs^ith  such  as  encourage  a  change  of  heart  and  life.  This 
w^as  done  about  the  year  1  829,  shortly  after  the  first  class  in  the  county  w^as 
organized,  with  which  they  became  identified.  What  Rev.  John  Haney  was 
to  the  Winterstown  Church  Rev.  F.  Flinchbaugh  was  to  Stabley's  Church,  es- 
pecially in  their  early  history. 

Soon  after  Brother  Flinchbaugh  had  connected  himself  with  our  church, 
the  annual  conference  gave  him  license  to  preach.  He  traveled  a  few^ 
years  as  an  itinerant,  but  served  mostly  in  a  local  relation  with  great  efficiency. 
It  was  no  unusual  thing  for  him  to  walk  ten  miles  on  a  Sunday  morning, 
preach  and  then  w^alk  home  again.  "And  there  w^ere  giants  in  those  days," 
and  Brother  Flinchbaugh  was  one  of  them.  His  most  enduring  monument  is 
erected  in  the  hearts  of  a  large  number  of  grateful  people,  who  under  God 
owe  their  conversion  directly  or  indirectly  to  him.  Many  of  his  decendants 
are  still  battling  for  the  same  religion  and  the  same  church.  He  died  Janu- 
ary 14,  1866,  at  a  ripe  and  honored  old  age.  His  wife,  Mary,  died  January 
20,  1866.  His  memory  is  a  precious  legacy  to  the  church  he  loved  so  well. 
Longfellow^  has  well  said  : 

"When  a  great  man  dies. 

For  years  beyond  our  ken, 
The  life  he  leaves  behind  him 
Lies  upon  the  paths  of  men." 

And  so  Rev.  F.  Flinchbaugh  has  not  been  forgotten.  The  life  he  lived 
so  long  and  well  will  continue  to  lie  "upon  the  paths  of  men,"  brightening 
their  way  to  the  kingdom  of  heaven. 

FIRST    CHURCH,     YORK 

York  is  the  oldest  town  west  of  the  Susquehanna  river.  The  site  of  the 
town  was  selected  by  Thomas  Cookson,  on  both  sides  of  the  Codorus  creek. 
Its  corporate  history  dates  from  September  24,  1787.  It  is  now  a  city  of 
perhaps  50,000  inhabitants.  Most  of  the  stronger  denominations  early  planted 
their  churches  in  this  place.  The  Methodists,  from  whom  our  first  church 
was  bought,  came  here  in  1781,  the  first  service  being  held  by  the  Rev. 
Freeborn  Garretson,  January  24  of  that  year.  It  was  held  at  the  private  house 
of  James  Worley,  an  Episcopalian,  who  was  a  prosperous  farmer  near  town 
in  West  Manchester  township.  Mr.  Worley  had  heard  Rev.  Garretson 
preach  near  Baltimore,  Md.,  and  he  was  so  impressed  by  his  sermon  that  he 
invited  him  to  come  and  preach  in  his  house.  He  accepted  this  invitation 
and  preached  to  a  large  audience  from  the  words :   "Old    things    are    passed 


164  LANDMARK    HISTORY    OF    THE 

away;  behold  all  things  are  become  new."  The  people  in  and  around  York 
were  confused  by  his  new  doctrines,  and  his  sermon  called  forth  exciting  de- 
bates. He  was  invited  to  return,  and  he  preached  a  number  of  times  in 
James  Worley's  farm-house.  Being  a  man  of  great  force  of  character  and 
eloquence,  his  preaching  resulted  in  securing  Mr.  Worley  and  his  family  and 
many  others  to  adopt  his  faith. 

At  about  this  time  the  Methodists  built  their  first  church  in  this  town  on 
the  corner  of  Philadelphia  and  Newberry  Streets.  This  building  in  due  time 
was  torn  down  by  them,  and  a  brick  church,  30x57  feet  in  size,  was  erected 
in  its  place.  In  1837  they  built  a  new  church  on  the  corner  of  Philadelphia 
and  Beaver  Streets,  under  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  Tobias  Riley.  It  was  dedi- 
cated to  God  July  29,  30,  1837.  The  old  church  was  then  offered  for  sale, 
and  our  people  bought  it  in  the  year  1840. 

At  a  quarterly  conference  of  York  Circuit,  held  August  1  8,  1  840,  at  the 
residence  of  Adam  Strayer,  the  following  trustees  were  elected,  with  a  view 
of  establishing  a  church  in  York:  Jacob  Ehrhart,  of  the  paper  mill  near  York; 
Adam  Strayer,  of  near  Stabley's  Church  ;  and  Peter  Rauhouser,  of  near  Dover. 
Rev.  John  Fohl  was  the  presiding  elder,  and  Rev.  Jacob  Scholler  was  pastor 
of  the  circuit.  These  trustees  met  in  York  on  September  14  of  the  same 
year.  In  looking  around  over  the  town  for  a  suitable  site,  they  found  the  old 
Methodist  Church,  which  had  been  vacated.  This  they  bought  for  $1,500, 
having  a  frontage  of  200  feet  on  Newberry  Street,  100  feet  on  Philadelphia 
Street,  also  60  x  250  feet  a  little  further  west  on  Philadelphia  Street, 
and  a  cemetery  on  Gay  Street  with  a  frontage  of  about  150  feet. 
Probably  one-half  of  the  land  has  been  sold  since  then,  yet  the  property  now 
owned  by  the  church  could  not  be  bought  for  $25,000.  It  is  one  of  the  most 
desirable  points  for  a  house  of  worship  in  the  city. 

At  the  annual  conference  of  1  840,  held  in  the  month  of  February  in  Bal- 
timore, Md.,  Rev.  John  Snyder  was  appointed  to  "York  Mission,"  but  the  w^ay 
was  not  opened  for  him  to  do  anything.  At  the  conference  held  in  March, 
1841,  in  Rapho  school  house  No.  3,  in  Lancaster  county.  Rev.  C.  S.  Crider 
was  appointed  to  "York  Station"  as  a  missionary.  The  Otterbein  Church,  of 
Baltimore,  Md.,  pledged  $200  a  year  toward  the  support  of  a  pastor  here. 
This  amount  they  continued  to  give  for  a  period  of  about  four  years,  w^hen 
the  annual  conference  made  arrangements  to  sustain  this  mission.  This 
charge  was  Rev.  C.  S.  Crider's  first  field.  He  was  an  untried  man  on  a  new 
and  important  work.  He  had  spent  all  his  life  on  his  father's  farm  tilling  the 
soil,  and  had  enjoyed  only  the  slender  advantages  of  the  then  very  common 
schools.  But  he,  like  so  many  others  of  our  great  men  in  church  and  state- 
had  rare  natural  endowments,  and  these  he  improved  as  well  as  he  could. 
He  was  an  unwearied  student  of  the  Bible  and  naturally  an  orator.  He  had 
graces  and  gifts  that  naturally  drew  the  people  to  him.  His  piety  was  con- 
spicuous, and  he  moved  among  the  people  with  gravity  and  humility.  He 
applied  himself  earnestly  to  the  task  of  gathering  a  congregation  in  a  town 
where   he   had   no   members   whatever,  and  where  nearly  everybody  held   a 


UNITED    BRETHREN    CHURCH  165 

nominal  membership  in  some  church,  but  where  the  per  cent,  of  truly  con- 
verted people  was  alarmingly  low.  In  the  tw^o  years  of  his  pastorate  the 
membership  grew  from  nothing  to  about  fifty.  Rev.  C.  S.  Crider  was  born 
February  1,  1811,  and  died  w^hile  yet  a  young  man  March  5,  1850.  His  re- 
mains lie  buried  at  Myerstown,  Pa. 

At  the  conference  of  1843,  Rev.  Jacob  Reinhart  w^as  appointed  to  York. 
He  vs^as  a  busy  little  man  who  was  unhappy  only  when  he  had  nothing  to  do. 
But  here  he  found  w^ork  enough  to  satisfy  his  most  enlarged  desire.  During 
his  pastorate  of  two  years  he  paid  the  remaining  debt  on  the  property,  and 
made  another  of  $1,000  in  building  a  parsonage,  the  house  now  ovs^ned  by 
the  Doerr  estate. 

In  1845  the  conference  placed  Rev.  Enoch  Hoffman  in  charge  of  this 
church.  During  the  two  years  of  his  service  there  seemed  to  have  been  but 
little  loss  or  gain  in  the  work.  A  short  time  before  this  the  burden  of  sup- 
porting this  mission  had  been  thrown  on  the  conference,  and  this  prcved  to 
be  a  heavy  one  for  that  body  to  carry,  considering  the  imperfect  plans  then 
in  operation  to  raise  money  for  the  cause  of  missions.  The  outlook  for  the 
success  of  the  w^ork  here  did  not  seem  to  be  very  hopeful.  The  leading  man 
of  the  conference  had  about  persuaded  one  another  that  the  United  Brethren 
had  no  work  to  do  in  the  large  towns,  and  in  York  particularly.  And  now 
they  thought  that  the  best  thing  for  the  annual  conference  to  do  at  its  next 
session  w^as  to  abandon  York  or  attach  the  appointment  to  York  Circuit,  and 
thus  save  their  missionary  money.  They  came  to  the  annual  conference  of 
1847,  which  met  in  Hershey's  Church  near  Carlisle,  resolved  to  abandon  the 
ground  in  York,  at  least  so  far  as  a  mission  station  v^as  concerned.  Bishop 
William  Handby  presided  at  this  conference,  it  being  his  first  appearance  in 
the  East.  He  w^as  accompanied  by  Rev.  David  Edwards,  then  the  editor  of 
the  Religious  Telescope.  On  their  way  from  Baltimore,  Md.,  to  the  place  of  the 
meeting  of  the  conference  they  stopped  at  York  to  make  a  little  inspection  of 
our  church  property  there.  The  bishop's  quick  eye  soon  saw  that  we  had  a 
valuable  property,  and  that  time  w^ould  show^  the  wisdom  of  holding  on  to  it. 
It  is  said  that  the  bishop  labored  with  the  committee  to  send  a  man  to  the  mission 
another  year,  but  all  his  arguments  and  entreaties  w^ere  in  vain.  "Enough 
missionary  money  had  been  spent  in  York,"  they  said.  Finding  no  hope  of 
carrying  his  point  there,  and  yet  being  pressed  in  spirit,  he  brought  the  matter 
into  open  conference  and  there  stated  his  convictions,  how^  he  w^as  overruled 
in  the  stationing  committee,  argued  his  case  like  a  law^yer,  then  begged  the 
conference  to  vote  only  $50,  and  by  such  a  vote  instruct  the  committee  to 
appoint  a  man  to  the  church.  "Try  it  one  more  year,"  he  said.  The  confer- 
ence could  not  resist  his  tearful  pleadings  and  voted  the  appropriation,  and 
thus  York  vv^as  saved  to  this  church.  The  bishop  was  happy  over  the  victory 
he  had  won. 

This  event  marked  the  beginning  of  the  success  of  our  church  work  in 
this  city,  the  first  city  in  the  Union,  outside  of  Baltimore,  Md.,  in  which  we 
succeeded  in  planting  a  strong  church  to  stay.     In  the  course  of  about  ten  or 


166  LANDMARK     HISTORY     OF    THE 

twelve  years  it  became  the  banner  church  in  the  Pennsylvania  Conference  in 
the  raising  of  money  for  missions,  which  position  it  retained  for  many  years. 
It  has  kept  its  place  well  to  the  front  among  all  the  churches  in  the  denomi- 
nation in  its  benevolent  contributions  ever  since. 

At  this  critical  period  in  the  history  of  the  church,  in  the  year  1847,  Rev. 
J.  C.  Smith  was  appointed  the  pastor.  He  was  eminently  successful  as  a 
preacher  and  pastor.  When  he  came  here  he  found  only 
forty-three  members,  who  were  poor  and  disheartened. 
The  old  church  was  also  sadly  in  need  of  repairs,  and  a 
heavy  debt  rested  on  the  parsonage.  The  church  had  also 
come  into  disrepute,  somewhat  largely  through  jealousy  qn 
the  part  of  the  other  churches  in  the  tow^n.  It  vs^as  com- 
monly known  by  the  Pennsylvania  Dutch  name  of  "Schwef- 
feldunsf  (Brimstone  smell),  possibly  because  some  forceful 
"fire  and  brimstone"  sermons  had  been  preached  here,  or 
may  be  because  of  the  fact  that  brimstone  sticks  had  been 
used  in  those  early  days  to  light  the  tallow  candles  then  in 
use,  which  left  a  perceptible  smell  of  brimstone  in  the 
Rev.  J  C.  Smith  building.     Brother  Smith's  labors  here  soon  brought  to  the 

church  the  confidence  of  the  community,  and  at  the  end  of  four  years  the 
church  building  was  in  good  repair,  and  he  left  the  charge  in  a  good  condi- 
tion financially,  and  with  one  hundred  and  fifty  working  members. 

According  to  the  conference  minutes  his  immediate  successors  to  this 
church  were  Revs.  W.  B.  Wagner,  1  85  1  ;  Tobias  Crider,  1852;  W.  B.  Wag- 
ner, 1853-54;  W.  B.  Raber,  1855-56,  each  of  whom  served  the  church  well 
during  their  respective  but  uneventful  periods  of  time.  About  this  time  or 
possibly  a  litde  later  the  present  parsonage  was  built  at  a  cost  of  $3,000.  At 
the  conference  of  1857,  Rev.  J.  C.  Smith  was  returned  to  this  church,  and  re- 
mained its  pastor  for  a  period  of  four  years.  He  was  followed  by  Rev.  Enter- 
line,  1861-62;  and  Rev.  Jacob  Erb,  1863-64-65. 

In  1866,  at  the  conference  held  in  Litdestown,  Rev.  J.  C.  Smith  was  sent 
a  third  time  to  this  church  as  its  pastor,  serving  it  five  years  more,  thus  serv- 
ing the  church  in  all  thirteen  eventful  years.  During  this  pastorate  the  old 
church  was  torn  down  in  the  middle  of  July,  1  869,  and  the  present  two-storied 
substantial  brick  church  was  erected  on  the  same  site  at  a  cost  of  $13,000. 
The  initiatory  steps  toward  a  new  church  were  taken  at  a  quarterly  conference 
held  December  26,  1868.  On  Sunday,  October  17,  1869,  the  lecture  room 
was  opened  for  divine  services  by  Rev.  W.  B.  Raber,  and  on  Sunday,  July 
24,  1870,  the  completed  church  was  dedicated  to  God  by  Bishop  J.  Weaver, 
D.D.,  assisted  by  Bishop  J.  Dickson,  D.D.,  and  Revs.  E.  Light,  W.  B.  Raber, 
and  J.  C.  Smith.  Over  $2,000  was  raised  on  this  occasion  to  pay  the  remain- 
ing claims  on  the  building,  which  was  one  of  the  best  in  the  denomination 
at  that  time.  The  church  is  46x80  feet  in  size,  and  has  a  large  steeple  1  10 
feet  high  at  the  front,  containing  a  clear-sounding  bell.  The  building  com- 
mittee who  superintended  its  erection  were  Charles  Lafean,   Rev.   Daniel  Eb- 


UNITED    BRETHREN    CHURCH 


167 


erly,  Jacob  Allison,  Henry  Lucking  and  Rev.  J.  C.  Smith.  Rev.  J.  C.  Smith 
deserves  more  credit  than  any  other  minister  that  ever  preached  here  for  the 
present  standing  of  this  congregatiom.  He  preached  the  Gospel  for  forty- 
three  years.  He  died  November  13,  1886,  at  the  age  of  67  years,  9  months 
and  2  1  days.  The  church 
edifice  w^hich  he  built  here 
is  a  substantial  monument 
to  his  memory. 

At  the  conference  of 
1871,  Rev.  W.  B.  Raber 
became  pastor  here  a  sec- 
ond time,  and  at  the  close 
of  his  fourth  year,  during 
the  sitting  of  the  annual 
conference,  he  died.  He 
was  an  able  man.  In  1875 
Rev.  J.  P.  Smith  became 
the  pastor,  w^ho  was  a  very 
successful  revivalist  and 
who  greatly  built  up  the 
work.  During  his  first  year 
he  had  1  75  conversions. 
He  remained  four  years. 
At  the  close  of  his  first 
year's  pastorate  at  the  con- 
ference of  1876,  his  report 
of  the  membership  of  the 
church  w^as  as  foUow^s : 
Members  at  the  beginning  First  church,  York 

of  the  year,  252;  members  received,  104;  died,  4  ;  removed,  2  ;  expelled, 
dropped  and  withdrawn,  92  ;  members  at  the  end  of  the  year,  260  ;  increase, 
8.  The  increase  in  the  number  of  members  during  the  year  of  the  great  re- 
vival was  remarkably  small,  but,  no  doubt,  the  church  was  greatly  quickened 
under  this  mighty  revival  wave.  He  was  followed  by  Rev.  J.  P.  Miller,  who 
also  enjoyed  a  successful  pastorate,  remaining  three  years.  He  was  followed 
in  1  882  by  Rev.  J.  R.  Meredith.  Under  him  the  church  was  repaired  at  a  cost 
of  $1,500.  He  remained  three  years  and  was  followed,  in  1885,  by  Rev.  1. 
H.  Albright,  who  remained  five  years.  At  the  time  of  the  conference  of  1885, 
the  congregation  unfortunately  was  divided  upon  the  question  of  a  suitable 
man  for  the  church,  and  the  writer  was  sent  there  as  a  kind  of  a  "dark  horse." 
The  church  officials  received  him  rather  reluctantly,  with  the  tacit  understand- 
ing that  they  would  bear  with  him  for  a  year.  Thus  he  had  a  divided  church 
to  contend  with  from  the  start ;  but  the  Lord  came  to  the  rescue,  the  divided 
elements  were  united  under  the  gracious  operations  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  and 
success  came  to  the  work.     He  spent  five  of  the  most  pleasant  and  most  sue- 


168  LANDMARK    HISTORY    OF    THE 

cessful  years  of  his  ministry  in  this  church.  Under  his  labors  two  new  churches 
were  built  in  the  city,  the  Allison  Memorial  Church,  built  by  Jacob  Allison, 
and  the  Fourth  Church  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  city.  He  also  organized 
congregations  in  each  of  them.  Since  that  time  the  following  is  the  list  of  the 
pastors  of  this  church  :  Revs.  J.  D.  KiUian,  1890-91;  M.J.  Heberly,  1892-93; 
H.  B.  Spayd,  1894-95-96-97-98-99-00-01  ;  L.  C.  Wiswaeser,  1902;  Joseph 
Daugherty,  1903-04-05-06.  J.  A.  Gohn,  1907-08-09—. 

During  Rev.  J.  D.  Killian's  pastorate,  commencing  with  October  1  1,  1890, 
a  week's  services  were  held  in  celebrating  the  semi-centennial  year  in  the 
history  of  the  church.  A  large  pipe  organ,  costing  $2,000,  was  placed  in  the 
church  in  1902.  Since  the  beginning  of  Rev.  Joseph  Daugherty's  pastorate 
the  use  of  the  German  language  at  the  preaching  services  was  abandoned. 

The  names  of  many  persons  stand  out  prominently  on  the  records  of 
this  church  because  of  their  loyalty  and  devotion  through  many  years  of 
service.  Flinchbaugh,  Allison,  Kottcamp,  Oberdick,  Carl,  Schroeder,  Fisher, 
Lucking,  Brunhouse,  Hoff,  Stough,  Stegemyer,  Kleffman,  Smith,  Hager,  Witta, 
Denues,  Crider,  Henise,  Strine,  Porter,  all  familiar  names  to  the  older  mem- 
bers and  to  the  former  pastors,  and  many  others  "whose  names  are  in  the 
book  of  life,"  are  worthy  of  mention. 

Rev.  H.  B.  Schroeder,  a  strong  and  influential  member  of  this  congrega- 
tion for  more  than  forty  years,  a  recognized  leader  in  all  its  activities,  deserves 
more  than  a  passing  notice.  He  was  born  in  Diepholtz,  Kingdom  of  Hano- 
ver, Germany,  October  26,  1825,  and  died  in  York,  November  9,  1888.  He 
came  with  his  parents  to  this  country  in  1844.  He  settled 
in  York  in  the  year  1 846.  He  married  Miss  Catherine 
Hager  shortly  after  coming  here.  They  had  ten  children,  of 
whom  only  two  are  living,  Mrs.  J.  L.  Smith,  and  Mrs.  Lewis 
Roth.  He  was  a  dyer  by  trade,  but  worked  for  a  while  in 
a  stone  quarry ;  also  at  masoning.  He  finally  became  a 
cigar  manufacturer,  which  he  made  his  life  business,  and 
which  he  carried  on  at  his  well  known  business  place  on 
West  Market  Street  for  many  years.  "  He  and  his  wife  knew 

how  to   keep    house,  for  out    of  a  small  income  they  man- 
Rev.  H.  B.  Schroeder  1     .        1  •  .  f  "J  i.    •  11   tL  « 

aged  to  lay  in  store  for  a  rainy  day,  yet  in  all  the  years 
they  gave  liberally  to  the  church  and  all  her  various  institutions.  He  was 
converted  to  God  at  a  camp-meeting  held  in  Rauhouser's  woods  near  Dover 
in  1847,  and  joined  the  church  in  this  city  September  5th  of  the  same  year. 
He  was  licensed  to  preach  in  1850,  and  was  useful  as  a  local  preacher.  He 
was  in  his  time  sexton,  trustee,  class  leader,  Sunday  School  superintendent, 
treasurer,  general  steward,  delegate  to  the  annual  conference,  and  local 
preacher.  He  was  a  man  of  considerable  intelligence,  was  well  informed  on 
many  subjects,  and  especially  was  he  a  man  of  the  Bible,  and  always  de- 
lighted to  talk  on  sacred  themes  with  all  whom  he  met.  He  was  a  man  of 
strong  convictions,  and  was  inclined  to  be  very  out-spoken  when  occasion  re- 
quired.    Death  suddenly  ended  his  earthly  career,  and  he  was  one  whom  the 


UNITED    BRETHREN    CHURCH  169 

church  could  hardly  spare.  His  place  was  hard  to  fill,  and  never  was  filled 
just  as  he  filled  it  ;  but  our  loss  was  his  gain.  "God's  w^orkmen  die,  but  his 
w^ork  goes  on." 


DALLASTOWN    CHURCH 


Dallastown  is  a  thriving  town  located  seven  miles  southeast  of  York, 
along  the  York  and  Chanceford  Turnpike,  and  on  an  eminence  of  656  feet 
above  sea  level.  Although  the  surrounding  land  is  now  fertile  and  produc- 
tive, it  w^as  not  so  in  1841  when  ex-sheriff  James  Peeling,  of  York,  bought  a 
tract  of  ninety-five  acres  for  $500,  most  of  which  is  now  the  site  of  Dallas- 
town.  "This  tract  for  many  years  before  had  been  a  parade  or  muster  ground 
for  the  militia,  and  consequently  was  an  open  commons."  It  was  the  northern 
limit  of  what  w^as  known  as  the  "York  Barrens."  The  town  was  given  the 
name  it  bears  during  the  presidential  campaign  of  1844,  in  honor  of  George 
M.  Dallas,  of  Philadelphia,  w^ho  was  elected  and  served  as  vice-president  of 
the  United  States  under  the  Polk  administration.  The  town  did  not  grow 
rapidly  in  its  early  history.  Its  population  in  1870  was  287,  in  1 880  it  was 
486,  in  1885  it  was  610,  and  now  it  is  about  2,000.  The  town  was  incor- 
porated into  a  borough  in  the  year  1867. 

The  brethren  had  established  preaching  places  around  and  close  to  the 
place  where  the  town  now  stands  many  years.  They  preached  in  the  private 
houses  of  Lewis  Hartman,  John  Daugherty,  the  grandfather  of  Revs.  Joseph, 
B.  F.,  and  Samuel  Daugherty ;  Jacob  Hartman,  John  Keller,  Jacob  Spatz,  and 
Jacob  Sechrist,  the  father  of  Rev.  H.  A.  Sechrist,  Field  Secretary  of  the  Gen- 
eral Church  Erection  Society.  The  places  w^here  these  early  services  were 
held  were  located  v/ithin  a  radius  of  several  miles  from  Dallastow^n.  Jacob 
Sechrist's  home  was  near  the  town,  and  Mrs.  Sechrist,  in  attending  some  of 
these  meetings,  would  carry  her  child,  now  Rev.  H.  A.  Sechrist,  as  far  as  three 
miles  and  back  again.  Such  devotion  counts  in  any  family  for  Christ  and  his 
cause. 

When  the  village  of  Dallastown  w^as  composed  of  ten  or  twelve  small 
houses  John  Neff  was  the  first  to  suggest  to  Charles  Neff,  who  was  a  carpen- 
ter by  trade,  the  idea  of  building  a  church  in  it.  It  needed  a  church,  as  it  was 
commonly  known  by  the  name  of  "Sodom,"  on  account  of  the  general  v^ick- 
edness  of  its  inhabitants.  Jacob  Sechrist  was  called  the  "Lot"  of  the  town,  and 
there  was  a  common  saying  among  the  people  that  if  Lot  would  leave,  Sodom 
would  be  destroyed.  He  lived  here  to  a  good  old  age  and  w^as  the  chief 
factor  in  the  building  of  a  church  for  the  redemption  of  the  place. 

A  small  brick  church,  37  x  42  feet  in  size,  was  built  in  1  850.  The  corner- 
stone was  laid  in  June  of  that  year  by  Rev.  J.  C.  Smith.  The  mason  work 
was  done  by  John  Weldin,  The  carpenter  work  was  done  by  Charles  Neff. 
Jacob  Sechrist  made  the  brick  and  delivered  them  on  the  ground  for  five  dol- 
lars a  thousand.  The  contemplated  cost  of  the  church  was  about  $500,  but 
its  actual   cost   was  about   $1,200.     Charles  Neff's   work   cost   $125,   and  his 


170 


LANDMARK     HISTORY    OF    THE 


wages  were  sixty  cents  a  day.  The  church  was  dedicated  to  God  at  about 
Christmas  time  in  1  850  by  Rev.  J.  C.  Smith,  assisted  by  Revs.  A.  Owen,  George 
Schneider,  and  Fred.  Grimm,  the  last  two  of  whom  were  the  pastors  of  the 
circuit.  A  steeple  was  built  on  this  church  about  ten  or  twelve  years  before 
it  was  torn  down.  A  parsonage  was  built  on  the  corner  near  the  church  in 
1879,  under  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  G.  W.  Lightner.  The 
house  is  now  owned  by  Wm.  Sechrist.  In  this  old  church 
hundreds  of  souls  were  gloriously  saved.  This  plain 
building  was  made  fragrant  with  the  aroma  of  old 
hymns,  the  earnest  prayers  of  intercessors  who  knew  how 
to  plead  with  God  and  the  shouts  of  the  redeemed  made 
happy  in  the  consciousness  of  sins  forgiven.  The  "  old- 
fashioned  revivals"  that  were  held  in  it  were  days  of 
power,  of  which  many  of  the  older  members  love  to 
speak.  Even  the  cold-hearted  and  hypocritical  be- 
liever who  looked    on   was 


constrained  to  say,  "The 
Lord  is  in  it."  The  follow- 
ing brethren  were  the 
trustees  w^hen  the  first 
church  w^as  built  :  Jacob 
Hartman,  Jonathan  Neff 
and  Jacob  Sechrist. 

Up  to  the  year  1885 
the  Dallastowrn  appoint- 
ment belonged  to  a  large 
circuit,  but  the  officials  of 
the  church  petitioned  the 
conference  of  1  885  to  con- 
stitute this  church  a  station, 
This  petition  w^as  granted, 


iJu 

Ml 

r/ 
i 
r 

1 

Dallastown  Old  Church 


as  they  felt  able  to  support  a  pastor  themselves 
and  Rev.  J.  P.  Smith  was  sent  as  the  pastor.  The  membership  of  the  church 
at  this  time  was  185.  Under  his  pastorate  the  old  church  was  torn  down  and 
a  new  brick  church,  40  x  65  feet  in  size,  was  erected  in  its  place.  The  corner- 
stone was  laid  on  Sunday,  June  1  3,  I  886,  by  Rev.  C.  T.  Steam,  D.D.,  assisted 
by  Revs.  A.  H.  Rice  and  J.  P.  Smith.  About  $350  in  subscriptions  and  cash 
w^ere  secured  toward  the  building  fund.  It  was  dedicated  to  God  on  Sunday, 
September  12,  1886,  by  the  same  brethren  who  officiated  at  the  corner-stone 
laying.  The  church  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  $4,200,  of  which  $1,300  was 
needed  on  the  day  of  dedication  to  meet  all  claims.  On  account  of  the  rainy 
weather  the  whole  amount  was  not  secured  at  this  time,  but  the  trustees  as- 
sumed the  balance  and  the  dedication  services  proceeded.  On  the  Sabbath 
following  the  entire  amount  due  on  the  church  was  secured.  The  following 
persons  composed  the  board  of  trustees  at  this  time  :  Joseph  Sechrist,  H.  D. 
Kauffman,  Chester  Smith,  Solomon  Kauffman  and  Jacob  F.  Spatz. 


UNITED     BRETHREN     CHURCH 


171 


Rev.  A.  H.  Rice  described  the  church  as  follows :  "This  is  a  beautiful 
church.  The  windows  are  of  cathedral  colored  glass.  It  is  furnished  w^ith 
excellent  pews,  a  fine  pulpit,  a  beautiful  altar-rail,  a  large  marble  slab  com- 
munion table  and  two  nice  altar  chairs,  and  in  the  pulpit  recess  are  three  extra 
fine  pulpit  chairs,  the  gift  of  J.  Frederick  Nelker,  of  Baltimore,  Md.  The  roof 
is  slate,  and  a  steeple  ninety-live  feet  high  graces  the  front  of  the  church  in 
which  swings  a  1,600-pound  McShane  bell."  It  was  supposed  at  that  time 
that  this  church  would  answer  the  purposes  of  the  congregation  for  many 
years  to  come.  The  old  parsonage  w^as  sold  and  a  new^  one  v/as  built  by  the 
side  of  the  church  during  Brother  Smith's  pastorate. 

Since  Dallastow^n  Church  has  been  made  a  station  the  follow^ing  pastors 
have  served  it :  Revs.  J.  P.  Smith,  1885-86-87;  J.  D.  Killian,  1888-89:  J.  H. 
Young,  1890-91-92-93;  I.  H.  Albright,  1894-95-96-97-98;  R.  R.  Rodes,  1899- 
1900-01-02-03  to  October,  1904;  L.  Walter  Lutz,  1904-05-06-07-08-09— 

This  congregation  has  enjoyed  great  prosperity  throughout  its  history, 
and  especially  during  the  last  twenty  years.  It  has  been  blessed  w^ith  great 
tidal  waves  of  revival  influence  and  power  that  swept  many  souls  into  God's 
kingdom  like  shells  and  pearls  from  the  deep  sea  to  the  pebbly  beach.  During 
the  writer's  last  year's  pastorate  one  hundred  and  eight  persons  w^ere  won  to 
Christ,  most  of  w^hom  w^ere  men.  The  congregation  has  grow^n  to  be  one  of 
the  strongest  and  most  influential  in  the  conference.  The  following  young 
men  entered  the  ministry  from  this  church,  all  of  w^hom  are  living  and  in 
active  service :  Revs.  H.  A.  Sechrist,  A.  R.  Aycrs,  D.  Barshinger,  B.  F.  Daugh- 
erty,  Joseph  Daugherty,  S.  F.  Daugherty,  F.  B.  Emenheiser,  B.  D.  Rojahn  and 
G.  C.  Daugherty. 

The  following  are  the  names  of  some  of  the  members  who  for  years 
have  been  prominent  in  active  service  in  this  church:  Neff,  Sechrist,  Spatz 
Green,  Raab,  Daugherty,  Rojahn,  Eberly,  Kauffman,  Reidel,  Minnich,  Stabley, 
Heckert,  Heisler,  Fix,  Grimm,  Glatfelter,  Ness,  and  others. 
We  have  room  for  the  picture  of  one  of  these  brethren,  Jacob 
F.  Spatz,  who  for  many  years  stood  in  official  relation  to  the 
church  in  one  capacity  and  another,  always  active,  faithful 
and  true,  until  he  fell  asleep  in  Jesus  a  few  years  ago. 

The  second  old  church,  which  w^as  not  very  old,  was 
no  longer  adequate  to  accommodate  the  growing  and 
aggressive  congregation  and  Sunday  School  properly.  For 
several  years  plans  for  the  erection  of  a  new  church  were 
considered.  Under  the  faithful  and  hard-working  pastor. 
Rev.  L.  Walter  Lutz,  the  new  church  finally  materialized. 
A  large  lot  was  secured  early  in  the  year  1907  from  J.  C. 
Heckert,  located  in  the  heart  of  the  tow^n  on  the  opposite 
side  of  the  street  from  the  old  church.  Ground  w^as  broken 
for  the  new  building  in  May,  1907,  and  the  corner-stone  of 
the  new  church  was  laid  August  4,  1907,  by  Rev.  W.  H. 
Washinger,  D.D.,  presiding  elder  of  the  conference,  assisted  by  Rev.  L.  Walter 


172 


LANDMARK    HISTORY    OF    THE 


Lutz,  pastor  in  charge.  The  writer  preached  on  this  occasion  on  Sunday 
morning  and  evening  from  1  Cor.  3  : 9,  and  Jer.  5:1.  Eleven  ministers  of  our 
church  and  several  of  other  churches  were  in  attendance  at  the  various  serv- 
ices of  the  day,  and  $640  in  cash  and  subscriptions  for  the  church  were  se- 
cured. It  was  a  great  day  for  our  church.  The  services  partook  more  of  the 
nature  of  a  love-feast — a  reuniting  and  binding  of  old  ties  and  the  making  of 
new  ones.  Besides  the  sermons  there  were  pleasing  addresses  from  every 
minister  present,  from  Rev.  J.  W.  Grimm,  the  oldest,  to — its  hard   to   say  who 

bore  this  distinction,  the 
youngest.  These  w^ere 
pithy  and  pointed,  full 
of  reminiscences  and  car- 
ried words  of  praise 
from  their  respective 
congregations  and  best 
wishes  for^the  successful 
completion  of  this  hand- 
some church.  Up  to  the 
time  of  the  closing  of 
these  services  $15,000 
had  been  secured  toward 
the  erection  of  this  edi- 
fice. 

The  new  Bethlehem 
Church  is  built  of  Hum- 
melstown  brownstone, 
with  cut  brownstone 
trimmings,  the  mason 
work  of  broken  range 
ashler,  pointed  with  red 
cement,  and  the  Sunday 
School  of  brick.  The 
auditorium  is  66  x  77 
feet  and  the  Sunday 
School  room  is  53x82 
Dallastown  New  Church  f^gj.    jj^    size.      The     ex- 

treme length  of  the  building  is  1  1 9  feet  from  front  to  rear,  and  the  greatest 
width  is  86  feet.  It  has  two  entrance  towers  ;  one  is  78  feet  and  the  other  is 
40  feet  high.  It  is  a  great  structure,  requiring  great  faith  to  project,  perse- 
vering work  to  complete  ;  but  the  idea  that  it  was  to  be  erected  to  the  honor 
and  glory  of  a  great  God  was  a  constant  inspiration  to  them.  More  than  three 
years  were  covered  in  the  erection  of  this  sacred  edifice.  It  is  no  cheap 
job,"  such  as  is  soon  done.  Time,  patience,  faith,  hope,  love,  prayer,  toil, 
sacrifice  and  tears  were  some  of  the  ingredients  that  were  put  into  it,  and 
these  mean  more  than  the  money,  stone,  brick,  lumber,    steel   and   other  ma- 


UNITED    BRETHREN    CHURCH  173 

terial  factors  that  w^ere  used  in  its  construction.  Before  the  new  church  was 
started,  and  while  the  brethren  were  thinking  about  it,  trying  to  plan  wisely 
for  it  and  praying  much  over  it,  they  had  a  vision  of  a  temple,  beautiful,  com- 
modious, substantial,  w^hich  they  considered  wrould  be  in  a  measure  at  least 
worthy  of  the  God  of  their  fathers.  In  the  construction  of  this  beautiful 
church  they  came  up  to  the  ideal  in  that  vision  as  nearly  as  they  could. 
Everybody  who  sees  the  building  and  who  know^s  the  financial  condition  of 
this  people  will  say  that  they  did  remarkably  w^ell. 

It  is  one  of  the  great  churches  of  our  denomination.  A  few  words  can 
not  describe  it  adequately,  and  vv^e  refrain  from  the  task,  only  to  say  in  a  gen- 
eral way  that  the  entire  structure  is  a  Tudor  Gothic  design  of  architecture. 
Its  several  departments  and  many  rooms,  vestibules,  choir  and  organ  lofts, 
large  columns  and  trusses,  sliding  partitions,  large  memorial  art-figure  win- 
dows, opalescent  glass  w^indows,  toilets,  kitchen,  light  and  heating  appliances, 
furniture  and  furnishings  must  be  seen  to  be  appreciated.  The  cost  of  its 
construction  is  put  at  $33,000.  The  total  cost,  including  the  site  and  the  re- 
modeling of  the  brick  parsonage  next  to  the  church,  is  about  $42,000.  The 
board  of  trustees,  who  with  the  pastor.  Rev.  L.  Water  Lutz,  brought  this  en- 
terprise to  its  happy  consummation,  are  A.  F.  Fix,  Reuben  Bates,  H.  H.  Myers, 
J.  C.  Heckert,  W.  F.  Glatfelter,  Dr.  W.  H.  Minnich  and  Samuel  Kauffman. 

This  magnificent  church  vv^as  dedicated  to  Almighty  God  on  Sunday,  May 
15,  1910,  by  Bishop  W.  M.  Bell,  D.D.,  of  Los  Angeles,  Cal.  The  dedication 
services  really  opened  on  Saturday  evening  before,  w^hen  the  bishop  deliv- 
ered his  great  lecture  on  "American  Perils."  The  Sabbath  day  on  this  occa- 
sion v^as  one  of  the  brightest  and  best  days  of  the  year.  Bishop  Bell  preached 
at  the  morning  and  evening  services  tw^o  edifying  sermons  on  the  themes, 
"The  witness  of  God  in  the  Nature  of  Man,"  and  "Christ  and  the  General 
Welfare."  The  amount  needed  to  cancel  the  entire  indebtedness  w^as  about 
$23,000,  and  during  the  day  $10,000  was  secured  in  cash  and  subscriptions, 
leaving  about  $  1  3,000  of  a  deficit,  v/hich  the  trustees  and  congregation  as- 
sumed. Then  the  church  was  formally  dedicated  to  the  w^orship  of  God  by 
Bishop  Bell,  w^ho  was  assisted  in  the  services  of  the  day  by  Rev.  W.  H.  Wash- 
inger,  D.D.,  presiding  elder  of  the  conference.  Rev.  L.  Walter  Lutz,  the  pastor, 
and  the  follow^ing  visiting  brethren  of  the  conference  :  Revs.  J.  E.  Kleffman, 
D.D.,  D.  R.  Wagner,  A.  N.  Horn,  E.  L.  Hughes,  S.  A.  Crabill,  J.  A.  Gohn,  A. 
R.  Ayers,  L.  A.  Stangle,  G.  K.  Hartman,  E.  H.  Hummelbaugh,  J.  P.  Koontz, 
R.  R.  Rodes,  E.  B.  Emenheiser,  B.  D.  Rojahn,  and  G.  C.  Daugherty.  A  num- 
ber of  the  former  pastors  of  the  church  preached  every  evening  of  the  week 
following  dedication  day,  and  these  services  were  w^ell  attended  and  spiritual 
in  their  character.  With  these  the  dedication  services  of  the  church  ended. 
Now^  this  building  is  being  tested  by  actual  use,  as  to  whether  or  not  it  w^ill 
fully  answer  the  purpose  of  its  erection.  The  first  church  stood  thirty-five 
years,  the  second  church  stood  twenty-five  years,  and  this  one  we  hope  may 
stand  five  hundred  years,  to  the  glory  of  God  and  the  salvation  of  men. 

The  Salem   Church   in   Snyderstown,   now^   called    Yoe,  is  a  child  of  the 


174  LANDMARK     HISTORY    OF    THE 

Dallastown  congregation.  Yoe  is  a  thriving  borough  located  less  than  one 
mile  north  of  Dallastown.  Rev.  L.  Kohr  commenced  to  preach  here  in  1  885 
in  Moses  Snyder's  cigar  shop  and  store  room.  The  corner-stone  of  a  new 
church  w^as  laid  on  Sunday,  September  1  6,  1 888,  by  Rev.  J.  D.  Killian,  the 
pastor,  assisted  by  Rev.  S.  N.  Moyer,  of  York  Circuit.  A  neat  frame  church, 
32  X  40  feet  in  size,  covered  w^ith  slate  and  heated  with  a  furnace  in  the  cellar, 
w^as  dedicated  to  God  November  25,  1888,  by  Rev.  A.  H.  Rice.  This  church 
stands  near  where  Revs.  John  Brown,  Jacob  Snyder,  and  Jacob  Erb  preached 
seventy-five  and  eighty  years  ago.  John  A.  Snyder,  Moses  Snyder,  and 
Abraham  Strayer  deserve  much  praise  for  being  back  of  this  work,  thereby 
making  it  a  success. 

Some  years  after  this  point  was  separated  from  Dallastown.  Under  the 
pastorate  of  Rev.  J.  P.  Koontz  this  church  was  torn  dow^n  and  a  new^  buff 
brick  church,  56x75  feet  in  size,  was  built  in  its  place  in  the  year  1901.  A 
tovs^er  85  feet  high  was  built  on  the  entrance  corner,  in  which  swings  a  1  000- 
pound  McShane  bell.  One  of  the  novel  features  of  this  church  is  that  it  is 
built  across  a  stream  of  w^ater  running  through  the  tovs^n,  the  w^alls  being  sup- 
ported across  it  by  two  large  arches.  The  corner-stone  of  this  church  w^as 
laid  August  11,  1901,  by  Rev.  H.  B.  Spayd,  assisted  by  Revs.  J.  P.  Anthony, 
R.  R.  Rodes,  and  J.  P.  Koontz,  the  pastor.  It  was  dedicated  to  God  January 
12,  1902,  by  Rev.  W.  M.  Weekley,  Church  Erection  Secretary.  Its  total  cost 
was  about  $10,000.  In  1898  Rev.  J.  P.  Koontz  built  a  splendid  parsonage  in 
the  town. 

ROHLER'S    UNION     CHURCH 

This  church  is  located  in  the  northeast  end  of  Dover  township,  York 
county,  and  is  a  part  of  Dover  Circuit,  of  which  Rev.  D.  J.  March  is  the  pas- 
tor. It  is  conveniently  located  for  the  people  who  worship  there,  but  by  many 
from  a  distance  who  come  to  it  for  the  first  time  it  may  be  considered  to  be 
an  out-of-the-way  place,  in  the  midst  of  the  Conewago  hills  and  far  away  from 
the  railroad.  Many  of  the  members  of  the  conference  have  never  seen  it. 
Yet  this  unpretentious  country  church  has  an  interesting  history,  the  begin- 
ning of  w^hich  dates  back  more  than  a  hundred  years. 

Near  the  close  of  the  eighteenth  century  a  number  of  the  people  of  the 
Baptist  faith  came  into  this  section  of  the  county,  who  believed  in  the  doctrine 
of  immersion,  and  who  wrote  to  the  Vincent  Baptist  Church,  in  Chester 
county,  requesting  that  congregation  to  send  some  person  properly  qualified 
to  baptize  them.  "This  request  was  granted,  and  eight  were  baptized  in  the 
name  of  the  Triune  God."  They  also  desired  to  have  a  more  convenient 
place  of  worship  than  that  which  private  houses  afforded.  Accordingly  on 
the  1 9th  of  March,  1  800,  Jacob  Rohler  for  one  pound  and  ten  shillings  deeded 
"one  acre  of  land  adjoining  a  graveyard  to  Hugh  Laird,  John  Richcreek  and 
John  Miller,  trustees,  on  which  land  was  to  be  built  a  new  school-house  and 
union   meeting-house  for   any  that   preach   the   gospel. "     It  is  not   definitely 


UNITED    BRETHREN    CHURCH  175 

known  how  long  previous  to  the  erection  of  this  building  the  graveyard  had 
been  used  for  burial  purposes,  but  the  date  I  774  is  cut  on  one  of  the  oldest 
rude  sandstones  at  the  head  of  a  grave,  signifying  the  date  of  the  burial. 

The  meeting-house  w^as  erected  in  due  time,  and  in  I  804  another  Baptist 
minister  visited  this  little  flock  and  baptized  a  few  others  in  an  adjoining 
stream.  At  this  time  an  organization  was  effected.  It  was  known  among  the 
Baptists  as  the  "Dover  Baptist  Church,"  the  first  church  of  that  denomination 
in  the  county.  The  congregation  had  a  regular  pastor  for  a  term  of  but  four 
years,  and  for  nearly  half  a  century  later  it  was  occasionally  visited  by  differ- 
ent clergymen  of  the  same  faith.  The  membership  at  one  time  had  in- 
creased to  fifty  under  the  Rev.  Henry  Essick,  w^ho  came  here  from  Delaw^are 
county  in  1  842.  At  this  writing  there  is  not  a  single  Baptist  in  the  community  and 
only  tw^o  Baptist  congregations  w^ithin  the  county  limits.  The  adjoining  cemetery 
contains  the  remains  of  a  large  number  of  persons  who  were  once  its  members. 

The  Lutherans  commenced  to  worship  in  this  building  at  an  early  day, 
and  continued  to  do  so  until  the  year  1870,  w^hen  they  built  a  church  of  their 
ow^n  a  few^  hundred  yards  w^est  of  this  building.  They  have  a  large  congre- 
gation and  Sunday  School. 

The  first  preaching  in  this  place  by  the  United  Brethren  preachers  as  far 
as  w^e  could  learn  w^as  done  by  Rev.  Christian  New^comer,  December  9,  1802. 
He  says  in  his  Journal,  "This  morning  I  rode  about  twelve  miles,  and  preached 
to  a  little  flock  at  Rohler's  school-house."  He  preached  here  again  on  Janu- 
ary 21,  I  806.  He  says,  "This  forenoon  1  preached  in  Rohler's  school-house  : 
the  people  were  extremely  w^ell  satisfied,  and  requested  me  to  visit  them 
again.  I  lodged  with  Mr.  Eshenfelder."  On  May  5th  of  the  same  year  he 
preached  here  again  "in  the  German  and  English  languages,  from  John 
20:  20."  On  Sunday,  November  15,  1807,  he  preached  here  from  Isa.  12: 
1,  2,  3.  He  preached  here  later  quite  frequently.  He  did  a  great  deal  of 
pioneer  w^ork  in  the  planting  of  our  church  in  this  state  as  w^ell  as  in  other 
states.  Other  ministers  of  our  church  preached  at  this  appointment  at  various 
intervals,  but  by  whom  we  are  not  able  to  tell  because  of  the  lack  of  reliable 
records.  But  from  1  840  the  church  w^as  used  as  a  regular  preaching  place 
by  our  pastors.  Among  these  were  Revs.  J.  W.  Burd,  J.  Erb,  S.  Enterline,  H. 
Greenblade,  T.  Crider,  I.  Coombs,  W.  B.  Raber,  J.  S.  Wentz,  W.  Humberger,  P. 
Corl,  F.  Grimm,  and  J.  B.  Jones. 

One  remarkable  fact  connected  with  this  appointment  is  that  our  preach- 
ers preached  here  regularly,  up  to  the  year  1855  w^ithout  having  a  single 
member  in  the  w^hole  community  connected  w^ith  our  church.  We  have  no 
definite  information  as  to  whether  any  souls  were  saved  during  this  period  or 
not ;  but  it  is  likely  that  some  were  won  to  Christ.  Of  course,  our  early 
preachers  then  understood  better  how^  to  catch  fish  than  how^  to  string  them 
up.  Since  that  time  they  have  learned  to  do  both  pretty  well.  Our  preachers 
w^ere  generally  entertained  at  the  home  of  Philip  Crone,  grandfather  of  Rev. 
A.  C.  Crone,  w^ho  was  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  Church,  and  who  served  as 
the  stev/ard  for  our  brethren  with  great  faithfulness. 


176  LANDMARK    HISTORY    OF    THE 

The  erection  of  the  Lutheran  church  in  1870  was  opposed  by  some  of 
their  members,  who  refused  to  go  into  the  new  church.  These  and  other 
Christian  people  in  the  community  united  in  tearing  down  the  old  school- 
house  and  church  and  in  erecting  the  present  Union  Church  on  the  site  occu- 
pied by  the  old  building.  \t  was  built  in  1870  of  native  sandstone,  and  is 
32  X  36  feet  in  size.  Philip  Crone  and  John  H.  Myers  did  the  mason  work. 
The  trustees  and  building  committee  were  Samuel  Runkle,  J.  H.  Myers  and 
Henry  S.  Crone.  The  corner-stone  was  laid  by  Rev.  W.  B.  Raber,  who  it  is 
said  preached  one  of  his  great  sermons  on  that  occasion.  The  church  was 
dedicated  to  God  on  the  last  Sunday  of  December,  1870,  by  Rev.  W.  H. 
Craumer,  assisted  by  Rev.  George  Brickley.  During  this  year  the  following 
members  of  our  church  moved  into  this  community  and  attended  this  church : 
Mrs.  Rebecca  Smith  and  J.  H.  Myers,  but  these  held  their  membership  at 
Weigle's  church,  some  miles  south  of  this  point.  After  the  dedication  of  the 
church  Rev.  W.  H.  Craumer  organized  a  congregation  here  composed  of  the 
following  members  :  Rebecca  Smith,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  J.  H.  Myers,  J.  W.  Bushy, 
Jesse  H.  Smith,  H.  S.  Crone,  E.  S.  Crone,  and  J.  S.  Crone. 

This  appointment  for  many  years  belonged  to  Liverpool  Circuit,  with 
Liverpool,  now  Manchester,  as  the  preacher's  headquarters.  It  was  for  a  time 
connected  with  Yocumtown  Mission.  Since  1872  or  1873  it  belonged  to 
Dover  Circuit,  and  has  been  served  by  the  following  pastors  :  Revs.  A.  Trip- 
ner,  1873;  F.Grimm,  1874-75;  L.  Kohr,  1876;  S.  Diller,  1877-78-79-80;  J. 
B.Jones,  1881-82-83;  S.  R.  Gipple,  1884-85;  L.  Kohr,  1886-87;  J.  L.  Nich- 
olas, 1888;  D.  Barshinger,  1889-90-91;  J.  A.  Shettel,  1892-93-94;  W.  O. 
Grimm,  1895;  L.  Rexrode,  1896;  H.  L.  Eichinger,  1897;  H.  Boyer,  1898-99- 
1900.  F.  B.  Emenheiser,  190 1-02;  J.  W.  Houseman,  1903-04-05;  H.  E. 
Shultz,  1906-07-08  to  July,  1909,  when  he  died;  B.  D.  Rojahn,  to  October, 
1909;  D.  J.  March,  1909— 

Since  1870  the  church  has  passed  through  uneventful  but  prosperous 
years.  Its  membership  is  composed  of  some  of  the  best  people  of  the  com- 
munity and  its  growth  is  slow  but  substantial.  Although  it  is  a  union  church, 
no  other  congregation  worships  there  but  the  United  Brethren. 

SPRINGET     CHURCH 

Springet,  know^n  for  years  as  "Possumtown, "  later  as  Pleasureville,  and 
now  as  Springet,  is  located  two  and  a  half  miles  northeast  of  York.  Anthony 
Seiple  lived  at  this  place  seventy  years  ago,  where  there  were  only  a  few 
houses,  and  the  surrounding  country  was  covered  with  a  dense  forest.  His 
only  occupation  was  "coon  and  possum  hunting,  "  and  he  was  called  "the 
king  of  possums. "  The  first  name  the  town  bore  was  not  desirable,  hence  it 
w^as  changed  to  its  later  name  and  then  to  that  it  now  bears. 

Our  ministers  commenced  to  preach  in  this  village  in  the  home  of  Dr. 
George  Conn,  who  vv^as  a  relative  of  "uncle"  George  Conn,  of  York,  in  1855. 
The  doctor  was   converted  to  God  during  the   winter  of    1854-55  at   a  great 


UNITED    BRETHREN    CHURCH  177 

meeting  held  in  the  Liverpool  (Manchester)  union  church  under  the  pastoral 
labors  of  Rev.  W.  B.  Raber.  At  a  quarterly  conference  held  at  a  camp-meet- 
ing near  Manchester  August  1 6,  1 860,  the  following  brethren  were  elected 
as  trustees  to  build  a  church  in  Springet :  Charles  Diehl,  of  Manchester, 
George  Conn  and  Lawrence  Mahr.  These  trustees  bought  eighty-six  perches 
of  ground  from  William  Nissley  in  the  heart  of  the  village  for  $60.  The  date 
of  the  deed  is  January  19,  1861.  Within  a  few  months  after  the  purchase  of 
the  lot,  a  neat  frame  church,  30  x  35  feet  in  size,  was  built  at  a  cost  of  about 
$500,  without  counting  considerable  free  labor  that  was  done  toward  its  erec- 
tion. At  this  time  Rev.  J.  B.  Jones  was  the  pastor,  and  the  only  members  of 
our  church  in  the  village  were  Dr.  George  Conn,  John  Gipe  and  Lawrence 
Mahr.  Rev.  J.  C.  Smith  laid  the  corner-stone  of  the  church  on  a  cold  day  in 
the  spring  of  1 86  L  He  preached  upon  the  walls  of  the  new  building,  hav- 
ing been  refused  admission  into  the  school-house  because  the  directors  were 
not  much  in  sympathy  with  the  "prayer-meeting  people."  Rev.  F.  Hagen,  a 
Moravian  preacher  of  York,  was  also  locked  out  of  the  school-house  because  he 
w^as  going  to  have  a  prayer-meeting  there,  wrhen  Dr.  George  Conn  left  him 
hold  the  meeting  in  his  house.  We  have  never  learned  that  prayer  or  a 
prayer-meeting  ever  did  any  harm  to  any  person  or  property.  The  completed 
church  was  dedicated  to  God  on  Sunday,  June  2,  1861,  by  Rev.  S.  Enterline, 
w^ho  w^as  then  pastor  of  our  First  Church  in  York,  assisted  by  Revs.  W.  B. 
Raber  and  Fred.  Grimm.     It  was  named  "Sardis  Church." 

Some  glorious  revivals  were  held  in  this  small  church.  But  the  growling 
congregation  and  Sunday  School  demanded  a  larger  and  better  church.  The 
old  building  was  torn  down  in  1  880,  and  the  present  frame  church,  30  x  60 
feet  in  size,  was  built  on  the  site  of  the  old  one  at  a  cost  of  $1,400,  under  the 
pastorate  of  Rev.  A.  H.  Rice.  It  is  a  plain  and  attractive  building,  has  a  nice 
steeple  in  which  swings  a  bell  of  excellent  tone.  It  w^as  dedicated  on  Sun- 
day, November  7,  1880,  by  Rev.  D.  D.  DeLong,  D.D.,  President  of  Lebanon 
Valley  College,  assisted  by  Revs.  C.  T.  Steam,  D.D.,  presiding  elder,  J.  C. 
Smith,  J.  P.  Miller,  J.  R.  Hutchison  and  A.  H.  Rice,  pastor  in  charge. 

The  following  are  the  names  of  some  of  the  early  and  influential  members 
of  this  church :  the  Conns,  Billets,  Shepps,  Kellers,  Plow^mans,  Shrulls,  Shen- 
bergers.  Bowers,  Innersts,  and  Ferreys,  most  of  w^hom  have  gone  to  their  rest. 
Their  children  and  grandchildren  live  to  carry  on  the  work  they  so  heroically 
commenced. 

The  lot,  30  X  200  feet,  for  the  parsonage  vv^as  donated  by  Emanuel  Keller. 
The  date  of  the  deed  is  June  30,  1889.  The  parsonage  was  built  in  1889, 
under  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  S.  N.  Moyer,  at  a  cost  of  about  $1,200. 

ST.     PAUL'S    CHURCH 

As  early  as  1838  the  pastors  of  York  Circuit  commenced  to  preach  at 
Ehrhart's  Paper  Mill,  located  about  three  miles  southeast  of  York,  the  ruins 
of  which  may  yet  be  seen.     They   preached    here    regularly   for  many  years. 


178 


LANDMARK    HISTORY    OF     THE 


and  won  many  souls  to  Christ.  Among  the  converts  was  Rev.  W.  H, 
Craumer,  who  was  an  active  itinerant  in  the  conference  many  years.  They 
also  preached  in  several  private  houses  several  miles  east  of  the  paper  mill ; 
among  them  was  that  of  John  Loy,  whose  wife  was  a  member  of  the  church. 
In  1858,  while  Revs.  J.  S.  Wentz  and  J.  B.  Jones  were  on  York  Circuit,  they 
desired  to  hold  a  protracted  meeting  at  this  point,  but  the  house  was  too 
small  and  inconvenient  for  such  a  purpose.  Then  George  Musser,  an  un- 
converted man  in  the  neighborhood,  offered  them  the  use  of  his  corn-barnfor 
such  a  meeting,  which  they  accepted.  They  made  some  rough,  temporary 
benches  and  seats  out  of  slabs  and  boards  and  placed  them  on  the  floor  of 
this  barn  and  commenced  to  hold  a  meeting  October  4,  1858,  which  lasted 
several  weeks  and  resulted  in  eighty  conversions.  A  class  of  fifty-five  mem- 
bers was    organized    here   out    of    these   converts,    among  whom   were  Benj. 

Raab,  George  Musser,  Barney  Holtzapple, 
William  Wineka,  Henry  Wineka,  John 
Stabley,  Herman  Whitcamp,  and  many 
others  who  became  prominent  in  the  life 
and  work  of  the  church  in  the  community. 
Others  of  these  converts  joined  our  church 
at  Heindel's  and  at  Dallastown,  and  some 
united  with  the  Evangelical  Association. 

After   this   great   meeting    had    ended 
George  Musser  built   a   spring  house    over 
the  spring  on  his  farm,  and  built  a  second 
Musser  s  Spring  House  story   ou   it   as   a   permanent  place  to  hold 

religious  services  in.  It  is  still  standing,  and  is  about  15x20  feet  in  size- 
Here  our  preachers  preached  about  twenty  years,  or  until  Mr.  Musser  moved 
aw^ay.  The  old  plain  box-shaped  pulpit  which  our  preachers  used  here  may 
yet  be  seen,  standing  in  the  corner  of  the  building  as  a  silent  monitor  of  days 
gone  by. 

After  George  Musser  had  moved  av/ay  the  people  commenced  to  agitate 
the  importance  of  building  a  church.  John  Stabley  donated  about  one-fourth 
of  an  acre  of  land  for  this  purpose.  A  small  chapel,  28  x  36  feet  in  size,  w^as 
then  built  upon  it  early  in  the  eighties.  It  w^as  built  as  a  union  church  be- 
tween the  United  Brethren  and  the  Evangelical  Association,  and  is  located 
about  one  mile  north  of  Yoe.  When  the  chapel  was  about  completed  some 
of  the  brethren  of  the  Evangelical  Association  suggested  to  Rev.  L.  Kohr,  who 
w^as  then  our  pastor  here,  that  to  save  expenses  he  and  Rev.  Greininger,  of 
the  Evangelical  Association,  dedicate  it.  This  suggestion  did  not  seem  to  be 
quite  straight  to  Brother  Kohr,  and  so  stated  the  matter  to  Rev.  J.  C,  Smith, 
who  thought  as  Brother  Kohr  did.  So  Brother  Kohr  asked  Rev.  J.  C.  Smith 
to  take  his  place  at  the  dedication  services,  which  he  consented  to  do.  When 
these  brethren  arrived  at  the  church  on  dedication  day  a  Rev.  Hornberger,  of 
the  Evangelical  Association,  was  already  in  the  pulpit.  When  Brother  Smith 
stepped  on  the  pulpit  platform  he  withdrew  and  took  a  seat  in  the  congrega- 


UNITED    BRETHREN     CHURCH  179' 

tion  and  would  not  take  any  part  in  the  services  whatever,  not  even  pray  at 
the  close  of  the  services  w^hen  called  upon  to  do  so.  Brother  Smith  dedi- 
cated the  church  as  a  union  church.  Some  years  ago  our  people  bought  the 
Evangelicals  right  to  the  church,  and  w^e  now  have  undisputed  claim  to  it. 
Our  people  rejoiced  in  obtaining  full  control  of  this  property,  because,  as  the 
saying  goes,  "A  union  church  is  like  a  union  horse — everybody  wants  to  use 
him,  but  no  one  vv^ants  to  feed  him."  At  that  time  the  building  w^as  remod- 
eled, beautified  and  reopened  for  services  by  Rev.  A.  R.  Ayers.  From  that 
time  on  it  has  been  known  as  St.  Paul's  United  Brethren  Church. 

MANCHESTER    CHURCH 

Manchester,  formerly  Liverpool,  is  located  about  six  miles  north  of  York, 
along  the  York  and  Conewago  Turnpike.  William  Reeser  founded  the  town  in 
1814,  when  he  secured  Gen.  Jacob  Spangler  to  survey  the  land  and  make  a  plot 
of  the  town.  The  original  plot  contained  100  lots.  Tickets  were  sold  at  $100, 
each  one  of  which  drew  a  lot.  The  drawing  took  place  July  30,  1814.  It  is 
said  that  the  ingenious  founder  cleared  $4,000  by  this  venture,  and  in  1816 
he  built  the  large  brick  mansion  at  a  cost  of  $5,000  on  the  angle  formed  by 
the  union  of  the  "old  road"  and  the  turnpike.  The  town  was  incorporated 
by  action  of  the  court  August  27,  1869,  and  the  name  was  changed  to  Man- 
chester. 

In  November,  1820,  a  number  of  citizens  of  the  town  met  in  the  house  of 
William  Reeser,  for  the  purpose  of  laying  plans  to  build  a  union  church  and 
school-house.  At  a  later  meeting  held  March  28,  1  82  1 ,  C.  M.  Poor,  William 
Reeser,  Jacob  Fink,  John  Gross  and  Daniel  Gotwald  were  chosen  trustees  and 
a  building  committee.  The  church  was  built  in  the  summer  of  1  82  1 ,  at  a  cost 
of  $612,  and  was  decicated  January  21,  1822,  by  Rev.  Robert  Cathcart,  a 
Presbyterian,  and  Rev.  J.  G.  Schmucker,  a  Lutheran,  both  of  York.  A  school- 
house  v/as  built  on  the  same  lot.  This  meeting-house  was  torn  down  in 
1879,  and  the  present  union  church  was  built  in  its  place. 

The  first  United  Brethren  preacher  to  preach  in  this  town  was  Rev. 
Christian  Newcomer,  who  preached  here  January  11,  1  824,  from  Eph.  2  :  18, 
18,  19.  After  the  sermon  he  "lodged  with  Samuel  Gross."  About  1832  Rev. 
William  Brown  commenced  a  regular  appointment  in  this  church,  which 
later  became  the  center  of  a  large  circuit  for  our  preachers.  Here  our  pastors 
were  accustomed  to  live  for  many  years  and  preach  in  a  large  section  of 
country  around  it.  Among  our  first  members  here  were  Charles  Diehl,  Sam- 
uel Bear,  Daniel  Rodes,  Henry  Hoff  and  John  Spahr.  Camp-meetings  be- 
came popular  in  this  community  at  an  early  date.  One  was  held  in  August, 
1851,  on  Henry  Hoff's  land,  where  it  was  held  annually  for  a  number  of 
years.  In  August,  1 860,  the  camp-meeting  was  held  in  another  grove  near 
here.  Later  it  was  held  for  a  number  of  years  on  John  Wogan's  land.  On 
Monday,  May  24,  1  880,  about  sixteen  acres  of  land  was  bought  of  Mr.  Emig, 
for  $135.00  per  acre,  and  the  grove  was  named  "Emig's  Grove  United   Breth- 


180  LANDMARK    HISTORY    OF    THE 

ren  Camp  Ground."  The  first  camp-meeting  was  held  here  in  August  of  that 
year,  commencing  August  4th.  It  was  held  on  this  ground  annually  until  the 
year  1886,  inclusive.  On  August  17,  1886,  at  8.20  A.M.,  this  grove  and  all 
the  cottages,  the  tabernacle  and  boarding  hall  w^ere  destroyed  by  fire,  entailing 
a  loss  of  $3,495,  covered  by  insurance.  Hundreds  of  persons  -were  saved  at 
these  camp-meetings,  and  resulted  in  strengthening  our  churches  in  this  com- 
munity. 

Our  people  continued  to  worship  in  the  union  church  in  Manchester 
until  the  year  1878.  M.  L.  Duhling  donated  a  lot  in  town  on  High  Street  for 
the  erection  of  a  church  of  our  ow^n.  A  neat,  modern  church  w^as  erected 
under  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  G.  W.Kiracofe  at  a  cost  of  $1,700.  J.  A.  Demp- 
w^olf  was  the  architect  and  George  Yinger  w^as  the  contractor.  Col.  J.  A. 
Stable,  H.  M.  Everhart,  Charles  Mathias,  Jacob  Eppley  and  J.  B.  Rentzel  con- 
stituted the  board  of  trustees  and  the  building  committee.  It  w^as  dedicated 
to  God  December  14,  1878,  by  Bishop  J.  J.  Glossbrenner,  D.D. 

The  following  pastors  served  this  church  since  the  year  I  868  :  Revs.  W. 
H.  Craumer,  1868-69-70-71-72-73;  S.T.Wallace,  1874;  Peter  Corl,  1875;  A. 
Tripner,  1876;  G.  W.  Kiracofe,  1877-78;  A.  H.  Rice,  1879-80-81;  I.  H. 
Albright,  1882-83-84;  T.  Garland,  1885-86;  A.  H.  Shank,  1887-88;  W.  H. 
Shearer,  1889;  J.  W.  Houseman.  1890;  D.  W.  SoUenberger,  1891-92-93;  M. 
J.  Heberly,  1894-95;  E.  H.  Hummelbaugh,  1896-97-98-99-1900-01  ;  J.  E.  B. 
Rice  (resigned),    H.   L.    Eichinger,     1902-03;  A.  B.    Mower,   1904-05-06;  J.   R. 

Hutchison,  1907-08-09— 

JERUSALEM    CHURCH 

The  conversion  of  Samuel  Bear,  Sr.,  vv^ho  then  lived  near  w^here  Mt.  Wolf 
now  stands,  marked  the  beginnings  of  a  work  of  grace  that  led  up  to  the 
erection  of  this  church.  Prior  to  his  conversion  this  brother  used  to  attend 
religious  services  in  the  Union  Church  in  Manchester.  He  became  deeply 
convicted  of  sin  and  commenced  to  pray  earnestly  for  salvation.  At  his  home, 
on  going  to  and  from  his  work,  while  at  w^ork,  without  ceasing  he  called  on 
the  name  of  the  Lord  for  deliverance.  He  was  gloriously  saved  in  1  840  while 
at  prayer  under  a  large  v/hite  oak  tree  located  near  the  center  school-house 
between  Manchester  and  Emigsville.  After  his  conversion  he  went  toward 
his  home  shouting  praises  to  God,  and  stopped  at  the  homes  of  several  fami- 
lies and  told  of  his  conversion  to  God.  His  experience  as  told  by  him  made 
a  profound  impression  upon  all  w^ho  heard  it,  and  w^as  the  means  of  persuad- 
ing a  number  of  them  to  seek  Christ  also. 

Shortly  after  Samuel  Bear's  conversion  John  Shelly,  who  was  an  habitual 
drunkard,  was  also  led  to  seek  Christ.  He  came  into  the  community  as  a  stranger 
from  Shelly's  Island,  near  Goldsboro,  and  appeared  to  be  a  man  of  some  at- 
tractive qualities.  He  stayed  sober  long  enough  to  work  himself  into  the 
good  graces  of  Miss  Sallie  Myers,  whose  hand  he  won  in  marriage.  She  was 
an  excellent  young  lady,  the  daughter  of  Samuel  Myers,  a   well-to-do   farmer, 


UNITED    BRETHREN    CHURCH  181 

who  was  a  member  of  the  Mennonite  Church.  After  Mr.  Shelly  had  been 
married  only  a  short  time  his  old  drink  habit  began  to  assert  itself  more  and 
more  until  it  assumed  to  have  him  in  complete  control,  thus  making  his  young 
wife's  life  very  unhappy.  This  so  displeased  his  father-in-law  that  he  threat- 
ened to  chase  his  drunken  son-in-law  off  and  take  his  daughter  back  to  his 
home,  unless  he  would  stop  his  drunken  career  at  once.  He  also  told  him 
that  his  only  hope  of  deliverance  from  his  life  of  sin  w^as  a  thorough  regenera- 
tion of  heart  and  life  through  Christ.  He  became  alarmed  at  the  condition  of 
affairs  and  commenced  to  pray  earnestly  for  deliverance.  Samuel  Bear  visited 
him  in  his  distress,  prayed  with  him  and  encouraged  him  to  pray  on  until  he 
was  saved.  He  was  converted  to  God  while  praying  in  his  front  yard.  He 
quit  drinking,  but  he  became  sick  and  sent  for  Dr.  Bishop,  of  Manchester,  who 
treated  him,  and  among  the  prescriptions  that  he  gave  him  one  was  rum  soup. 
This  latter  he  refused  to  take,  saying  that  he  would  rather  die  sober  if  he  must 
die  at  this  time.  He  recovered  and  lived  sixteen  years  yet  to  bless  the  com- 
munity with  his  godly  life. 

Under  the  leadership  of  Samuel  Bear  and  John  Shelly  prayer-meetings 
w^ere  established  in  the  community  w^hich  w^ere  w^ell  attended  and  spiritual  in 
their  character.  Among  the  converts  at  these  meetings  were  Jacob  Cockley, 
John  Dessenberger,  John  Brua,  and  others,  most  of  whom  belonged  to 
Hoover's  Church  at  Starview. 

George  Ringer,  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  Church,  who  professed  to  be 
a  converted  man,  led  the  prayer-meetings  for  a  time,  but  when  the  brethren 
shouted  God's  praise  and  when  the  new^-born  souls  exhibited  the  joys  of  a 
new^  life,  he  expressed  his  displeasure.  He  cried  out  in  the  midst  of  the 
services,  "Brethren,  there  is  too  much  Unordnung  (disorder),  too  much  noi.se. 
The  devil  can's  stay  here  with  you."  To  this  latter  remark  Samuel  Bear  cried 
out  amen.  The  preacher  at  Starview^,  a  Rev.  Mr.  Garman,  w^as  favorable  to 
prayer-meetings,  and  he  attended  several  of  these  meetings,  but  they  became 
too  noisy  for  him  too.  He  then  denounced  these  meetings  in  his  church  in  a 
two-hour's  sermon,  and  warned  his  people  not  to  attend  them.  But  this  ser- 
mon only  seemed  to  help  the  good  cause  along,  and  the  prayer-meetings 
were  continued  in  John  Shelly's  spring-house  and  in  the  private  homes  of  the 
people  in  the  community  with  good  results.  Samuel  Bear  no-w  became  the 
leader  of  these  services.  He  vv^as  one  of  the  most  useful  and  highly  re- 
spected laymen  in  all  the  neighborhood,  who  lived  to  be  quite  old.  Rev. 
John  Haney,  of  Winterstown,  came  into  this  community  and  organized  these 
converts  into  a  class  or  church  in  1  840.  Among  those  w^ho  united  with  the 
church  was  Samuel  Peters,  a  quarterly  conference  preacher  of  the  Evangelical 
Association,  v^^ho  had  moved  here  and  who  was  a  good  man. 

The  membership  of  the  church  grew  with  the  passing  years  as  they  w^ere 
served  with  regular  preaching  by  the  pastors  of  York  Circuit.  At  a  quarterly 
conference  held  at  a  campmeeting  near  Dover  August  7,  1850,  the  following 
brethren  were  elected  trustees  w^ith  a  view  of  building  a  church  in  w^hat  was 
known   as   the   Dessenberger  neighborhood  :    Jacob   Cockley,   F.  Holder  and 


182 


LANDMARK    HISTORY    OF    THE 


Daniel  Fisher.  The  church  was  erected  about  two  miles  east  of  Mount  Wolf 
during  the  same  year,  and  named  "Jerusalem  Church. "  Rev.  William  Wag- 
ner was  the  presiding  elder  and  Rev.  J.  S.  Wentz  was  the  preacher  in  charge. 
Among  the  early  converts  in  this  church  were  Mectilas  Knaub  and  his  wife, 
w^ho  at  this  writing  are  still  living  at  a  great  age  and  patiently  waiting  for  the 
chariot  of  God.  This  building  was  destroyed  by  fire  early  in  the  year  1856, 
and  was  rebuilt  during  the  same  year.  It  was  dedicated  to  God  on  Sunday, 
June  22,  1856,  by  Rev.  W.  B.  Raber,  assisted  by  Revs.  Henry  Brown  and 
J.  R.  Green.  This  building  is  still  standing,  and  the  w^ork  of  soul-saving  is 
carried  on  in  it  under  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  A.  C.  Crone. 


OUNT    WOLF    CHURCH 


Mount  Wolf  is  a  prosperous  borough  on  the  Northern  Central  Railway, 
one-half  mile  northeast  of  Manchester  and  seven  miles  from  York.  In  1852 
the  firm  of  Adam  Wolf  &  Sons  opened  a  store  here,  and  started  a  coal  and 
lumber  yard.  The  business  w^as  continued  under  this  firm  until  1863,  when 
William  W.  Wolf,  one  of  the  sons,  was  elected  sheriff  of  York  County,  and 
removed  to  York  in  November  of  this  year.  He  died  w^hile  in  office.  Adam 
Wolf,  his  father  and  senior  member,  retired  from  business.  After  this  George 
H.  Wolf  became  the  sole  proprietor,  and  did  an  extensive  and  prosperous 
business.  After  Mount  Wolf  had  become  a  business  centre,  the  people  com- 
menced to  erect  houses  in  it.  The  town  was  laid  out  in  1867  by  Samuel 
Hoff,  on  an  area  of  thirty  acres,  with  I  65  lots,  from  a  survey  made  by  Daniel 

Ettinger,  of  York.  When  George  H.  Wolf  re- 
tired, his  two  sons,  George  A.  Wolf  and  Henry 
Wolf  took  up  the  business  and  are  still  carry- 
ing it  on  w^ith  commendable  success. 

A  number  of  families  living  in  Mount 
Wolf  belonged  to  our  church  in  Manchester, 
where  our  people  w^orshiped  in  the  union 
church.  In  the  year  1870  Peter  Mathias  was 
the  class  leader  among  our  people,  and  he 
wanted  the  members  who  lived  in  Mount 
Wolf  to  withdraw^  from  the  Manchester  class  and  organize  a  class  in  the  new 
town,  as  the  members  from  the  tw^o  villages  did  not  seem  to  get  along  very 
w^ell  together,  and  the  leader  did  not  seem  to  have  much  love  for  the  mem- 
bers in  Mount  Wolf.  Just  before  the  annual  election  of  church  officers  was 
to  take  place  he  said  to  the  class :  "If  the  Mount  Wolf  brethren  don't  with- 
draw from  the  Manchester  class,  don't  elect  me  class  leader. "  The  brethren 
in  Mount  Wolf  took  the  hint  and  organized  a  class  among  themselves  early 
in  the  year  1870.  Then  they  began  to  agitate  the  importance  of  building  a 
church  in  the  town.  A  frame  church,  about  30  x  50  feet  in  size,  w^as  started 
in  the  fall  of  that  year.     The  corner-stone  was  laid  by  Rev.  W.  B.  Raber,  and 


Mount  Wolf  Church  and  Parsonage 


UNITED     BRETHREN     CHURCH 


183 


the  services  incident  thereto  were  held  in  George  H.  Wolf's  barn.  The  com- 
pleted church  was  dedicated  to  God  June  4,  1871,  by  Rev.  W.  B.  Raber,  as- 
sisted by  Revs.  H.  A.  Schlichter  and  W.  H.  Craumer,  the  pastor  in  charge.  A 
few^  years  later  a  frame  parsonage  was  built  on  the  corner  by  the  side  of  the 
church. 

Among  the  first  members  here  were  Samuel  Bear,  Henry  Hoff,  Charles 
Diehl,  John  Spahr  and  Daniel  Rodes, 
together  with  their  wives.  Great  revivals 
were  held  in  this  church,  and  many  of 
the  children  and  grandchildren  of  these 
first  families,  together  w^ith  the  Wolfs, 
Kunkles,  Westhafers,  Melhorns,  Fitzkees 
and  other  influential  people  w^ere  added 
to  the  church.  The  church  was  repaired 
under  the  writer's  pastorate  in  the  spring 
of  1884,  at  a  cost  of  $250.  In  1892, 
under  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  D.  W.  Sol- 
lenberger,  the  church  w^as  more  exten- 
sively remodeled  at  a  cost  of  $1,300. 
The  old  tower  was  removed  from  the 
top  of  the  building  and  a  new^  one  was 
built  at  the  front  from  the  ground  up. 
The  vestibule  was  torn  out,  and  the  en- 
tire structure  w^as  improved  and  beauti- 
fied. It  w^as  reopened  for  divine  services 
in  the  month  of  August,  1  892,  by  Bishop 

N.   Casde,    D.D.  Rev.  W.  H    Wash.ngcr.  D.U. 

Nothing  was  done  to  this  church  after  this  until  the  year  1906,  when  it 
was  practically  rebuilt,  making  it  a  modern  building  throughout,  with  excellent 
facilities  for  better  work  than  ever  before.  This  was  done  under  the  pastorate 
of  Rev.  A.  B.  Mower  at  a  cost  of  $4,100.  It  was  reopened  for  services  De- 
cember 16,  1906,  by  Bishop  J.  S.  Mills,  D.D.,  assisted  by  Revs.  W.  H.  Wash- 
inger,  D.D.,  presiding  elder  of  the  conference,  and  A.  B.  Mower,  the  pastor  in 
charge.  This  is  one  of  the  most  flourishing  congregations  in  all  its  depart- 
ments for  a  small  country  town  to  be  found  in  the  conference.  Its  pastor  for 
the  last  three  years  was  Rev.  J.  R.  Hutchison,  w^ho,  on  account  of  throat 
trouble,  has  been  compelled  to  retire  from  the  active  ministry  at  the  last 
session  of  the  annual  conference,  after  a  long  and  most  useful  career. 


SPRY    CHURCH 


Innersville,  now^  known  as  Spry,  is  located  about  three  miles  southeast  of 
York.  The  first  preaching  in  the  town  was  done  in  an  old  school-house 
about  the  year  1858,  by  Rev.  F.  F.  Hagen,  pastor  of  the  First  Moravian  Church 
in  York.     Under  his  faithful  ministry  a  few  persons  were  w^on  to  Christ.   Mrs. 


184  LANDMARK    HISTORY    OF    THE 

Elias  Whitecamp,  the  mother  of  Mrs.  John  Keech,  was  the  first  convert.  Some 
time  before  her  conversion  a  daughter  of  hers  had  died,  and  she  became 
very  much  alarmed  because  she  was  not  prepared  to  die.  At  this  time  of 
her  great  distress  a  colporteur,  w^ho  was  a  good  Christian  man,  happened  to 
come  to  her  home,  to  whom  she  mentioned  something  of  her  trouble.  He 
exhorted  her  to  repent  and  to  believe  on  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  This  timely 
visit  upon  the  part  of  the  stranger  sent  of  God,  and  his  words  of  counsel 
effected  her  salvation.  Rev.  F.  F.  Hagen  was  not  able  to  preach  here  more 
than  only  occasionally  on  account  of  his  w^ork  in  York,  which  claimed  nearly 
all  his  time  and  attention.  Prayer-meetings  were  then  commenced  in  private 
houses,  which  were  held  regularly  for  years  with  good  results.  No  minister 
was  present  to  conduct  them,  but  one  of  their  own  number  would  perform 
this  duty  as  well  as  he  could,  each  taking  his  turn  in  leading  the  meetings. 
This  arrangement  was  satisfactory  among  them,  and  in  these  services  many 
persons  w^ere  won  to  Christ;  among  them  w^ere  Henry  Wineka,  John  Keech, 
Israel  Miller  and  other  influential  citizens  of  the  community.  About  the  year 
1860  Rev.  J.  C.  Smith,  pastor  of  our  First  Church  in  York,  commenced  to 
preach  here  occasionally  with  good  results.  The  pastors  of  York  Circuit  then 
took  up  the  appointment  as  a  regular  preaching  place  in  1  862,  using  the  old 
school-house  to  hold  the  services  in,  which  had  been  built  and  paid  for  by 
the  community  before  the  common  school  system  had  been  inaugurated. 

Early  in  the  spring  of  1870  a  converted  Jew  conducted  a  great  revival 
meeting  in  the  school-house,  in  which  many  persons  professed  to  have  been 
saved.  Rev.  A.  H.  Rice,  who  was  sent  at  this  time  to  York  Circuit  as  a  junior 
preacher  with  Rev.  Peter  Corl,  now  came  to  the  town  and  commenced  to 
co-operate  with  the  Jew  preacher  in  promoting  the  interests  of  the  revival 
then  in  progress.  They  worked  well  together.  About  the  time  the  meetings 
came  to  a  close  Brother  Rice  formed  these  converts  into  a  class,  which  has 
enjoyed  a  continued  prosperous  existence  until  now^. 

The  old  school-house  "was  an  old  affair  and  hardly  fit  for  use,"  and  on 
the  week  following  the  reception  of  members  into  the  church.  Rev.  A.  H. 
Rice,  assisted  sometimes  by  Henry  Wineka  and  Herman  Whitecamp,  can- 
vassed the  whole  neighborhood  soliciting  funds  for  the  purpose  of  building 
a  church.  The  young  preacher  was  only  a  quarterly  conference  preacher, 
but  he  had  the  push  and  pluck  of  a  man  of  some  experience  in  the  work,  and 
he  was  determined  to  win  out  in  this  his  first  venture  in  building  a  new 
church  where  he  thought  he  had  an  opportunity  to  do  so.  He  had  secured 
over  $800  in  cash  and  subscriptions,  bought  the  lot,  appointed  a  board  of 
trustees,  had  the  deed  drawn  up  and  paid  for,  and  contracted  with  a  con- 
tractor in  York  to  build  a  frame  church,  34x42  feet  in  size,  for  $950  from 
the  top  of  the  wall ;  all  this  without  the  regular  procedure  of  a  quarterly  con- 
ference anywhere.  At  the  first  quarterly  conference  of  the  year,  held  in  the 
old  union  church  near  Windsor,  Brother  Rice's  acts  were  ratified  by  that 
body,  and  the  church  building  enterprise  was  pushed  to  its  completion.  The 
trustees  that  had  been   appointed  were  William  Wineka,  Henry  Wineka  and 


UNITED    BRETHREN    CHURCH  185 

Herman  Whitecamp,  who  worked  hard  to  complete  the  church.  The  lot  w^as 
bought  from  Henry  Grothe  for  $25,  and  the  deed  for  it  is  dated  April  19, 
1870.  The  total  cost  of  the  ground,  building  and  furnishings  w^as  about 
$1,300.  It  was  dedicated  to  God  in  the  month  of  August,  1870,  by  Bishop 
J.  Weaver,  D.D.  A  debt  of  $250  remained  on  the  church  for  some  years, 
which  w^as  allow^ed  to  increase  by  the  accumulation  of  interest  on  it  until  the 
year  1 886.  Early  in  this  year  the  church  w^as  repaired  under  the  pastorate 
of  Rev.  S.  N.  Moyer,  and  it  w^as  formally  reopened  for  services  September 
5,  1886.  The  entire  debt  was  provided  for  on  this  occasion,  and  the  congre- 
gation started  on  a  new^  era  of  prosperity. 

The  building  of  a  new^  church  was  agitated  in  the  year  1895,  under  the 
pastorate  of  Rev.  R.  R.  Rodes,  w^ho  had  started  a  subscription  w^ith  a  view  of 
building  it  up  along  the  turnpike.  For  various  reasons  the  church  was  not 
built  at  that  time,  but  this  move  prepared  the  way  to  build  it  two  years 
later. 

The  new  church  w^as  built  in  1897,  on  the  site  of  the  old  one  and  upon 
its  foundation,  and  is  therefore  of  the  same  size,  except  that  an  addition  of 
18x24  feet  has  been  attached  to  the  w^est  end.  This  room  is  separated  from 
the  main  room  by  a  movable  partition.  An  entrance  tower  and  steeple  is 
built  in  the  southw^est  angle  of  the  building,  in  w^hich  swings  a  thousand-pound 
McShane  bell.  The  corner-stone  of  the  church  was  laid  on  Sunday,  August 
15,  1897,  by  Rev.  C.  A.  Burtner,  Ph.D.,  presiding  elder,  assisted  by  Revs.  H. 
B.  Spayd,  J.  R.  Hutchison,  I.  H.  Albright  and  J.  P.  Koontz.  The  church  was 
built  under  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  J.  P.  Koontz,  who  worked  hard  to  accom- 
plish the  task,  and  who  has  established  quite  a  reputation  as  a  builder  of 
churches  and  parsonages  throughout  his  ministry.  The  trustees  who  were 
back  of  this  work  were  Henry  Wineka,  William  Wineka,  Isaac  Berger,  Moses 
Aubel,  Albert  Wineka,  H.  G.  Stabley  and  William  H.  Rider.  The  total  cost 
of  the  building  was  $3,000.  H.  G.  Yessler,  of  York,  was  the  architect,  and 
the  building  committee  consisted  of  H.  G.  Stabley,  Rev.  J.  P.  Koontz,  W.  H. 
Rider  and  Albert  Wineka.  The  memorial  and  other  windows  are  very  beau- 
tiful and  cost  $325.  Their  total  weight  is  2,285  pounds.  They  were  made 
by  Haman  &  Hauk,  of  Harrisburg.  The  church  was  dedicated  to  God  on 
Sunday,  December  5,  1897,  by  Bishop  E.  B.  Kephart,  D.D.,  assisted  by  Rev. 
J.  L.  Grim,  presiding  elder,  and  Rev.  J.  P.  Koontz,  the  pastor  in  charge.  The 
church  is  in  a  flourishing  condition  under  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  C.  S.  Crabill. 


RED    LION    CHURCH 

The  thriving  town  of  Red  Lion  was  laid  out  in  1876  by  Mrs.  Catherine 
Myers.  It  is  located  about  ten  miles  southeast  of  York,  892  feet  above  sea 
level.  It  was  named  after  a  tavern  by  the  name  of  "Red  Lion,"  which  was  a 
characteristic  old-time  inn,  w^ith  a  picture  of  a  lion  painted  red  on  the  swing- 
ing sign  of  the  house.     Tradition  says  the  lion  was  not  a  voracious  one  that 


186 


LANDMARK     HISTORY    OF    THE 


scared  away  the  thirsty  visitors,  but  a  mild  and  peaceful  sort  of  a  fellow  with 
an  inviting  look. 

The  town  did  not  thrive  well  until  it  was  incorporated  in  the  year  1  880. 
Matthew  Gable,  a  most  aggressive  member  of  our  church,  built  the  first  house 

here  after  the  town  was  laid  out.  Since 
then  the  tow^n  has  grown  rapidly,  and  now^ 
has  about  2,000  inhabitants.  The  brethren 
had  been  preaching  around  this  town  for 
many  years.  The  quarterly  conference  of 
York  Circuit,  held  in  Spry  February  1 8, 
1  882,  appointed  Matthew  Gabel  and  Dan- 
iel Weaver  a  committee  to  "look  up  a 
preaching  place  in  Red  Lion  borough,"  and 
also  to  try  to  secure  a  lot  for  a  church.  Rev. 
L.  Kohr  acted  as  presiding  elder  pro  tern  at 
this  conference,  and  Rev.  G.  W.  Lightner 
w^as  pastor  in  charge.  In  the  spring  of  I  882 
Rev.  L.  Kohr  w^as  sent  to  York  Circuit,  and 
on  Saturday  evening  of  April  1 3,  in  the 
same  year,  he  preached  his  first  sermon  in 
the  tow^n  in  William  Spangler's  carpenter 
shop.  The  brethren  had  also  selected  a 
lot  for  a  church.  Brother  Kohr  went  to  see 
it,  and  w^hen  he  came  to  the  town  he  met 
Henry  Wallick,  proprietor  of  the  Wallick 
House.  He  was  no  professor  of  religion, 
and  w^as  regarded  as  being  a  rough  and 
outspoken  man,  but  he  told  Mr.  Kohr  that 
no  church  ought  to  be  built  on  an  alley 
where  all  kinds  of  objectionable  out-houses  might  be  built.  He  offered  to 
sell  a  good  lot  for  a  church,  centrally  located  on  Main  Street,  80  feet  front 
and  extending  back  to  the  alley  for  $150.  This  lot  was  bought  at  the  price 
named,  a  subscription  w^as  started,  and  v/hen  $470  had  been  secured  in  this 
way,  the  church  building  was  commenced.  This  action  upon  the  part  of  the 
brethren  w^as  ratified  at  a  quarterly  conference  held  in  Dallastown  April  I  5, 
I  882,  Rev.  L.  Peters,  presiding  elder,  presiding.  At  this  meeting  the  trustees 
for  the  church  were  elected  as  follow^s :  J.  R.  Green,  Matthew^  Gabel  and 
Samuel  Sprenkle,  who  were  also  constituted  the  building  committee.  The 
stone  for  the  foundation  wall  was  furnished  by  John  A.  Snyder.  The  corner- 
stone was  laid  June  22,  1882,  by  Rev.  J.  C.  Smith.  A  frame  church  was 
built,  32  X  55  feet  in  size,  eighteen  feet  high  to  the  square,  surmounted  by  a 
tall  tower  and  a  bell.     It  cost  $2,000,  including  the  lot. 

Before  the  building  was  quite  completed  Matthew  Gabel,  who  was  the 
leading  spirit  in  pushing  this  enterprise,  fell  over  and  died  while  engaged  in 
fitting  on  a  pair  of  shutter  hinges  to  a  window  frame.     Heart  failure  was  the 


Red  Lion  Church 


UNITED    BRETHREN    CHURCH  187 

cause  of  his  death.  Shortly  after  this  the  church  was  completed,  and  it  was 
dedicated  to  God  on  Sunday,  November  26,  1882,  by  Rev.  L.  Peters,  presid- 
ing elder,  assisted  by  Rev.  L.  Kohr,  pastor  in  charge.  After  the  dedication  of 
the  church  the  meeting  w^as  protracted,  resulting  in  tw^enty-six  conversions, 
out  of  which  the  church  w^as  organized  on  February  1  0,  1  883,  w^ith  J.  A.  Gohn, 
now  a  prominent  minister  in  the  conference,  as  the  leader. 

The  church  here  has  enjoyed  great  prosperity  throughout  the  years,  but 
the  trustees  and  members  had  quite  a  struggle  until  the  debt  on  the  church 
w^as  paid.  Brother  Gabel's  sudden  death,  occurring  just  at  the  time  it  did, 
was  a  severe  financial  loss  to  them.  The  debt  w^as  finally  paid,  but  the  lot 
by  the  side  of  the  church,  and  even  the  ground  at  the  rear  of  the  church  had 
to  be  sacrificed  to  help  lift  the  debt.  Therefore,  w^hen  the  necessity  for  a 
larger  church  w^as  forced  upon  the  congregation  and  they  could  not  buy  back 
any  of  the  ground  they  had  sold,  they  w^ere  compelled  to  re-locate.  In  the 
spring  of  1897  a  lot  for  a  new  church  w^as  bought  about  one  square  away 
from  the  old  church  from  Clinton  Hess  for  $800.  The  erection  of  this  build- 
ing w^as  begun  early  in  the  spring  of  1878,  and  pushed  to  completion  by  the 
indomitable  energy  of  the  pastor.  Rev.  J.  R.  Jones,  ably  assisted  by  the  fol- 
lowing building  committee :  William  Lichtenberger,  Fred  Smith,  S.  Eisen- 
baugh,  J.  W.  Strayer,  D.  W.  Horn,  David  Smith  and  C.  H.  Keener.  The 
church  is  a  substantial  brick  structure,  57  x  83  feet  in  size,  in  three  apartments, 
w^hich  can  be  throw^n  into  one  commodious  auditorium.  It  can  accommodate 
from  eight  hundred  to  one  thousand  people.  It  is  a  modern  building,  w^ith  a 
massive  tower,  containing  a  large  McShane  bell  and  the  town  clock.  Its  total 
valuation  is  $10,400. 

The  church  was  dedicated  to  God  on  Sunday,  January  15,  1898,  by 
Bishop  E.  B.  Kephart,  D.D.,  assisted  by  Rev.  J.  L.  Grimm,  presiding  elder,  and 
Revs.  J.  P.  Koontz  and  J.  Low^er  Grimm.  A  large  pipe-organ  has  since  been 
built  in  the  church  at  a  cost  of  $2,000.  During  1904-05  a  fine  brick  parson- 
age was  built  under  the  pastorate  of  the  late  Rev.  S.  N.  Moyer,  costing  $3,500. 
The  pastors  of  this  church  since  1 898  were  as  follows:  Revs.  J.  R.Jones, 
1898-99-1900-01  ;  W.  H.  Weaver,  1902  to  October,  1903;  S.  N.  Moyer,  1903- 
04-05-06;  J.  E.  Kleffman,  D.D.,  1907-08-09— 


SECOND    CHURCH,    YORK 

On  January  22,  1873,  Rev.  W.  B.  Raber,  who  was  then  pastor  of  the 
First  Church  in  York,  bought  of  a  Mr.  Schenck  a  house  and  lot  for  parsonage 
and  church  purposes  on  the  corner  of  Duke  and  South  Streets,  York.  The 
lot  had  a  frontage  of  eighty-six  feet  on  Duke  Street  and  seventy-nine  feet  on 
South  Street,  on  which  a  good  tv/o-storied  brick  house  was  standing  away 
from  the  corner.  Brother  Raber  bought  this  property  on  his  own  responsi- 
bility for  $4,000.     The  annual  conference,  held  in  Shippensburg  in  February, 


188  LANDMARK    HISTORY    OF    THE 

1873,  concluded  to  start  a  second  church  in  this  town,  although  this  action 
was  opposed  by  some  of  its  leading  members.  The  action  was  passed  and 
Rev.  J.  H.  Young  was  sent  as  the  pastor  of  this  new  mission.  At  a  quarterly- 
conference  held  in  the  First  Church  on  Saturday  evening,  March  8,  1873,  a 
board  of  trustees  was  elected  to  take  charge  of  the  property.  Rev.  Z.  A. 
Colestock,  presiding  elder,  presiding.  On  Monday,  March  10,  1873,  the 
trustees  unanimously  agreed  to  take  the  property  that  Rev.  Raber  had  bought 
off  his  hands,  and  also  made  arrangements  to  secure  money  to  make  the  first 
payment  on  the  same.  A  clear  title  to  the  property  was  secured  April 
5,  1873. 

On  March  24,  1873,  the  contract  for  a  new  frame  church,  36x50  feet  in 
size,  was  given  out.  The  work  on  the  building  was  commenced  about  the 
first  of  May.  In  the  meantime  a  Sunday  School  was  organized  in  the  house 
intended  for  the  parsonage  on  the  first  Sunday  of  April,  with  the  following 
officers:  George  Crone,  superintendent;  Henry  Eberly,  secretary;  Christian 
Houseman,  librarian.  The  new  church  was  dedicated  to  God  on  Sunday, 
September  1  7,  1873,  by  Revs.  E.  Light  and  C.  T.  Stearn,  D.D.,  assisted  by  the 
pastor,  Rev.  J.  H.  Young.  The  building  cost  $1,070.  When  the  congrega- 
tion was  organized  twenty  members  from  the  First  Church  were  transferred 
to  this  mission,  and  at  the  end  of  the  first  year  Brother  Young  reported  64 
members.  The  congregation  grew  gradually  and  slowly.  Some  years  it  met 
with  great  success,  and  then  with  reverses,  and  yet  it  had  been  served  by 
some  of  the  best  men  in  the  conference.  It  was  a  mission  for  more  than 
twenty  years,  so  long,  indeed,  that  it  received  the  name  of  "an  everlasting 
mission."  About  the  year  1 880  the  wisdom  of  continuing  this  work  was 
doubted  by  many  of  the  leading  men  of  the  conference.  Some  years  later  it 
was  still  questioned.  Our  churches  in  Woodbury,  now  North  Baltimore,  Md., 
and  in  Hanover,  Pa.,  were  also  of  slow  growth.  These  three  churches,  each 
with  difficulties  peculiarly  its  own,  presented  problems  to  the  conference  that 
were  difficult  to  solve.  They  were  for  years  a  heavy  drain  on  our  mission- 
ary funds. 

At  a  camp-meeting  held  on  Jefferson  Circuit  about  the  year  1  880  or  1  88  1 
these  three  churches  and  their  needs  were  brought  up  at  an  open  meeting  for 
special  prayers  by  their  respective  pastors.  Revs.  J.  C.  Smith,  J.  C.  Crider  and, 
I  think,  J.  R.  Hutchison.  A  crisis  seemed  to  have  come  in  their  history,  and 
here  the  Christian  people  agreed  to  pray  unitedly  to  God  for  help.  Rev.  A. 
Rudisil,  an  aged  and  devout  man  of  God,  was  called  upon  to  lead  in  prayer. 
In  part  he  prayed  in  the  German  language  as  follows,  as  near  as  we  can  recall 
it :  "O  Lord,  we  come  before  thee  upon  this  occasion  to  pray  especially  for 
these  three  churches,  of  whose  pressing  needs  their  pastors  have  spoken. 
They  come  here  and  earnestly  request  us  to  help  them  with  our  united  pray- 
ers. Now,  O  Lord,  we  come  to  thee  for  help.  Here  is  Woodbury,  one  of 
our  most  successful  missions  in  the  work  of  saving  souls,  but  they  are  all  very 
poor.     They  have  the  people,  many  members,  but  they  have  no  money.     O 


UNITED    BRETHREN    CHURCH  189 

Lord,  give  them  money.  Here  also  is  Hanover,  where  we  have  a  very  small 
congregation  of  wealth,  as  Auntie  Lohr  is  able  and  willing  to  support  the 
work  most  liberally,  but  where  we  have  no  people.  O  Lord,  come  to  the 
help  of  Hanover  and  send  to  them  the  people.  Then  here  also  is  York  Second 
Church,  which  is  in  the  w^orst  predicament  of  all.  O  Lord,  have  mercy  on 
this  church  as  it  has  neither  money  nor  people.  O  Lord,  come  to  the  special 
help  of  this  church  and  give  it  both  money  and  people,  for  his  name's  sake,  amen. " 
This  characteristic  prayer  of  Brother  Rudisil's  was  answ^ered  in  due  time,  and 
all  these  congregations  have  grown  and  prospered.  In  1 894  York  Second 
Church  ceased  to  be  a  mission. 

In  the  meantime,  in  1  89  1 ,  a  subscription  was  started  under  the  pastorate 
of  Rev.  H.  A.  Schlichter,  with  a  view  of  building  a  new  church.  It  was  built 
during  the  following  year,  under  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  C.  A.  Burtner,  Ph.D.,  at 
a  cost  of  $8,71  1.26.  This  w^as  considered  by  many  at  the  time  an  almost 
impossible  task,  but  it  w^as  done,  and  w^ell  done.  It  is  a  substantial  brick 
structure,  54  x  72  feet  in  size,  and  was  dedicated  to  God  on  Sunday,  January 
10,  1892,  by  Bishop  E.  B.  Kephart,  D.D.,  assisted  by  the  writer,  who  was  then 
a  presiding  elder,  and  Rev.  Dr.  C.  A.  Burtner,  pastor  in  charge.  The  congre- 
gation continued  to  grow  under  Rev.  Dr.  C.  T.  Steam's  long  pastorate  until 
I  906,  when  under  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  A.  R.  Ayers  the  church  w^as  enlarged 
and  remodeled  to  supply  the  needs  of  the  growing  congregation  and  Sunday 
School.  An  additional  plot  of  ground  was  bought  on  the  south  side  of  the 
church  for  $1,600,  to  enable  them  to  effect  this  enlargement.  The  total  cost 
of  these  improvements  was  $3,504,  and  they  now  have  one  of  the  finest 
auditoriums  in  the  city.  The  church  was  reconsecrated  to  God  on  Sunday, 
September  2,  1906,  by  Bishop  T.  C.  Carter,  D.D.,  assisted  by  Rev.  W.  H. 
Washinger,  D.D.,  presiding  elder  of  the  conference.  The  parsonage  was  also 
improved  at  this  time,  bringing  the  total  valuation  of  the  property  here  up  to 
$20,000,  all  paid  for.  The  Mite  Society  and  the  Sunday  School  were  most 
efficient  helpers  in  this  w^ork. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  pastors  of  this  church :  Revs.  J.  H.  Young, 
March,  1873,  to  March,  1875  ;  A.  H.  Rice,  1875-76;  J.  C.  Smith,  1877-78-79- 

80-81;  H.  B.  Dohner,  1882-83;  C.  A.  Burtner,  1884-85-86;  J.T.Shaffer,  1887- 
88-89;  H.  A.  Schlichter,  1890;  C.  A.  Burtner,  a  second  time,  1891-92-93;  C. 
T.  Stearn,  D.D.,  1894-95-96-97-98-99-1900-01;  A.  R.  Ayers,  1902-03-04-05-06- 
07-08-09-10. 


THIRD    CHURCH,     YORK 

At  a  quarterly  conference  held  in  the  First  Church  December  5,  1886,  by 
Presiding  Elder  A.  H.  Rice,  the  question  of  providing  more  room  for  the 
Sunday  School  w^as  seriously  discussed,  as  the  room  was  too  much  crowded 
to  accommodate  it  properly.  At  this  point  in  the  proceedings  Jacob  Allison, 
a  member  of  the  conference,  thought  it  would  relieve  the  situation  here  if  we 


190 


LANDMARK    HISTORY    OF    THE 


would  organize  another  Sunday  School  somewhere  on  the  west  side,  and 
then  proposed  to  donate  his  whip  factory  on  West  Princess  Street  for  church 
and  Sunday  School  purposes.  He  said  it  would  be  ready  for  the  organization 
of  a  school  in  about  four  months.  This  offer  w^as  accepted  at  once  with 
thanks.  In  a  few  days  he  reconsidered  his  offer  and  made  a  better  one, 
namely,  to  donate  a  lot  on  West  Princess  Street  and  build  a  new  church  upon 
it,  in  memory  of  his  deceased  son,  without  any  cost  to  the  church.  This  he 
proceeded  to  do.  The  trustees  of  the  First  Church  were  constituted  the  trus- 
tees of  this  one  by  action  of  the  quarterly  conference.  The  corner-stone  of 
this  church  was  laid  on  Good  Friday,  April  8,  1887,  by  Rev.  A.  H.  Rice,  pre- 
siding elder,  assisted  by  Revs.  A.  H.  Shank,  G.  W.  Kiracofe,  J.  T.  Shaffer  and 
the  writer,  who  was  pastor  in  charge.  The  church  is  built  of  brick  and  is 
40  X  65  feet  in  size,  and  cost  $4,000.  It  was  dedicated  to  God  as  the  Allison 
Memorial  Church  on  Sunday,  October  1  6,  1887,  by  Bishop  E.  B.  Kephart,  D.D., 
who  preached  a  very  impressive  sermon  from  Zech.  14:  6,  7,  8.  He  was 
assisted  by  Revs.  A.  H.  Rice,  presiding  elder,  J.  T.  Shaffer,  J.  P.  Smith  and 
the  writer.  Revs.  S.  N.  Moyer,  F.  Grimm  and  W.  H.  Craumer  were  also  in 
attendance. 

On  Friday,  October  21,  1  887,  a  meeting  was  held  in  the  new  church  under 
the  direction  of  the  writer  to  organize  a  Sunday  School.  The  following  offi- 
cers were  elected:  Benjamin  Allison,  president; 
P.  Z.  Strine,  superintendent ;  C.  C.  Kottcamp, 
assistant  superintendent,  w^ho  resigned,  and  Ed- 
w^ard  Crone  was  then  elected ;  George  Stallman, 
secretary ;  Jacob  Allison,  treasurer ;  S.  J.  Metzel 
and  W.  P.  Yeatts,  librarians ;  and  D.  W.  Crider, 
John  Berkheimer  and  Fred  Bartels,  trustees.  The 
school  met  in  its  first  session  on  Sunday,  October 
23,  1887,  with  101  scholars.  The  congregation 
was  organized  on  Sunday,  February  1 9,  1 888, 
by  the  writer  with  the  follow^ing  as  charter  mem- 
bers:  E.  S.  Crone  and  C.  Z.  Denues,  leaders;  A. 
H.  Henise  and  W.  P.  Yeatts,  stewards ;  P.  Z. 
Strine,  Jacob  Allison,  Euphemia  Strine,  Maggie 
Strine,  Bertha  Stallman,  Jennie  Yeatts,  Eliza  En- 
terline,  Marion  Long,  Sarah  Long,  Clara  Newbold, 
Delilah  Allison,  Sadie  Denues,  Kate  Denues,  E.  G.  Eyster,  Rebecca  Eyster,  Ella 
Allison,  Catherine  Allison,  Benjamin  Bahn,  Amanda  Bahn,  Fred.  Bartels,  Merillis 
Bartels,  Henry  Alexander  and  Matilda  Allison. 

At  the  annual  conference  of  1888  Rev.  J.  P.Smith  w^as  sent  to  this  church 
as  its  first  pastor,  under  whom  the  church  prospered.  In  1893,  under  the 
pastorate  of  Rev.  J.  R.  Jones,  an  addition  of  twenty-five  feet  was  built  at  the 
rear  end  of  the  church ;  the  building  w^as  also  papered  and  painted,  and 
electric  lights  were  put  into  it,  all  at  a   cost   of   $1,400.     It  was   reopened  for 


UNITED    BRETHREN    CHURCH  191 

services  on  Sunday,  October  15,  1893,  by  Bishop  J.  Weaver,  D.D.  In  1895 
the  splendid  brick  parsonage  by  the  side  of  the  church  was  bought  for  $2,200, 
under  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  J.  R.  Hutchison.  During  the  year  1904,  under 
the  pastorate  of  Rev.  A.  H.  Rice,  the  church  was  extensively  remodeled  and 
beautified  at  a  cost  of  $3,300.  The  congregation  and  Sunday  School  are  in  a 
flourishing  condition  under  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  L.  W.  Stangle. 

The  following  is  the  list  of  the  pastors  of  this  church :  Revs.  J.  P.  Smith, 
1 888-89-90-9 1 ,  who  died  here  January  12,  1892;  J.  R.Jones,  1892-93-94;  J. 
R.  Hutchison,  1895-96-97-98;  J.  P.  Anthony,  1 899-1900-0 1  ;  A.  H.  Rice, 
1902-03,  to  October,  1904;  R.  R.  Rodes,  1904-05-06-07;  W.  J.  Houck,  1908; 
L.W.  Stangle,   1909— 


DILLSBURG    CIRCUIT    CHURCHES 

The  following  facts  we  secured  from  Rev.  W.  H.  Weaver.  The  territory 
operated  by  the  United  Brethren  Church  in  the  vicinity  of  Dillsburg  w^as  in- 
cluded in  the  York  Spring  Circuit  for  a  period  of  thirty-four  years,  ending 
with  the  annual  conference  session  at  Greencastle  in  1887.  Prior  to  1853 
the  charge  was  known  as  the  Franklin  Circuit,  and  it  w^as  first  organized  at  an 
annual  conference  held  in  Mower's  Church,  in  Franklin  County,  February 
28,  1849. 

Rev.  J.  C.  Smith  and  Rev.  Z.  A.  Colestock  were  the  pastors  on  the  Lit- 
tlestow^n  Circuit  during  the  conference  year  of  1846-47.  It  w^as  a  large  charge, 
but  these  faithful  ministers  enlarged  the  circuit  by  adding  new^  appointments 
to  it.  They  pushed  the  work  into  the  northeastern  section  of  Adams  County, 
and  held  a  revival  meeting  in  the  Blackberry  school-house,  which  w^as  located 
near  the  York  County  line.  At  the  annual  conference  in  session  at  Hershey's 
Church,  in  Cumberland  County,  Pa.,  March  1  1,  1847,  the  Rev.  John  Fohl  was 
assigned  to  the  Littlestown  charge,  on  w^hich  he  labored  for  tw^o  years.  Dur- 
ing his  pastorate  at  Littlestown  he  pushed  the  w^ork  beyond  the  Blackberry 
school-house  appointment,  and  established  new  appointments  in  the  northern 
portion  of  York  County. 

The  first  United  Brethren  appointment  in  northern  York  County  w^as 
established  at  "Mumper's  school-house, "  in  Franklin  township.  This  school- 
house  was  located  about  one  mile  w^est  from  the  place  w^here  the  union  church 
is  standing,  and  on  the  road  that  diverges  from  the  mountain  road  at  the  union 
meeting-house.  Soon  after  this  Rev.  John  Fohl  was  accorded  the  privilege  of 
conducting  religious  meetings  in  the  home  of  Michael  Kinter,  one  mile  and  a 
half  east  of  the  Mumper  school-house,  and  also  in  the  home  of  Abraham  Lau, 
on  the  state  road  near  the  Franklin  Church.  These  two  families  opened 
their  houses  to  Rev.  Fohl,  and  entertained  the  "converted  preacher"  when 
many  other  folks  were  ready  to  stone  the  minister  had  they  not  feared 
the  law. 


192  LANDMARK    HISTORY    OF    THE 

An  appointment  was  established  near  Franklintown  during  the  year 
1  848  in  a  log  school-house,  and  it  was  during  this  year  that  Garret  Baish  and 
his  wife  Susan  Baish,  and  Mary  Ditmer  w^ere  admitted  into  fellowship  w^ith 
the  United  Brethren  Church.  These  persons  formed  the  nucleus  of  the  first 
United  Brethren  church  organized  in  the  northern  portion  of  York  County. 
At  the  close  of  the  conference  year  1  848-49,  the  Franklintown  class,  including 
several  appointments  in  the  community  and  several  appointments  in  Adams 
County,  w^ere  constituted  a  mission,  and  the  church  records  indicate  that  at 
that  time  there  w^ere  only  thirty-five  or  forty  members  within  the  territory 
embraced  in  the  charge.  Rev.  John  Fohl  w^as  reappointed  pastor  for  the 
conference  year  commencing  February  28,  1849.  During  the  year  he  con- 
ducted revival  meetings  and  established  new  appointments  on  the  Franklin 
Mission,  as  there  w^as  opportunity  to  do  so.  Among  those  w^ho  w^ere  con- 
verted and  admitted  to  church  fellowship  in  York  County  during  this  year  w^e 
find  the  names  of  Elizabeth  Baish,  Joseph  Brenneman,  Henry  Ditmer,  Eliza- 
beth Coulson,  D.  M.  Heiges  and  Valentine  Flicker.  Rev.  John  Fohl's  pasto- 
rate ended  at  the  annual  conference  of  I  85  I . 

Rev.  S.  Enterline  v^as  assigned  to  the  mission  at  the  conference  of  1851. 
On  the  1  4th  day  of  June  of  this  year  Gardner's  Church  was  dedicated.  Rev. 
J.  C.  Smith,  presiding  elder,  officiating.  This  church  is  located  in  Adams 
County,  near  Latimore,  in  the  community  of  the  Blackberry  school-house,  in 
which  a  revival  was  promoted  in  1846-47,  by  Revs.  J.  C.  Smith  and  Z.  A. 
Colestock.  Another  meeting-house  w^as  erected  in  Franklintown  and  dedi- 
cated to  God  December  13,  1852,  by  Rev.  J.  C.  Smith,  presiding  elder.  This 
w^as  the  first  United  Brethren  church  in  the  northern  portion  of  York  County. 
During  Rev.  Enterline's  pastorate  on  this  mission  there  was  a  great  spiritual 
awakening  in  the  northern  portion  of  York  County.  Many  people  became 
interested  in  religious  matters  and  invited  the  praying  people  to  their  homes 
to  hold  prayer-meetings.  These  meetings  were  greatly  blessed  with  spiritual 
power,  and  often  extended  far  into  the  night  before  they  could  be  brought  to 
a  close.  The  people  were  happy  in  the  Lord,  often  loudly  shouted  praise 
unto  the  Lord.  At  a  prayer-meeting  in  the  home  of  Michael  Kinter,  in  Frank- 
lin County,  Henry  Bender  and  his  brother  Christian  Bender  began  to  seek 
the  Lord.  Henry  Bender  w^as  converted  on  second  Christmas  day,  1851.  At 
another  prayer-meeting  in  the  home  of  Mr.  Heighes,  near  the  union  church, 
the  Spirit  of  God  wrought  mightily,  and  here  the  sisters  of  Henry  Bender  be- 
gan to  seek  the  Lord.  Michael  Arnold  resided  in  Carroll  township,  and  he 
became  interested  in  this  great  religious  movement,  and  opened  his  home  for 
prayer  services.  Several  w^ere  saved  in  this  home  during  these  early  prayer- 
meetings,  and  among  those  who  sought  the  Lord  w^ere  his  children. 

At  a  great  revival  at  Bentz's  school-house,  in  Warrington  township,  con- 
ducted by  Rev.  S.  Enterline,  the  Altland  people,  the  Blackford  people,  the 
Arnold  people,  Henry  Kinter,  William  Beitzel  and  others  were  converted  and 
joined  the  United  Brethren  Church, 


UNITED    BRETHREN    CHURCH  193 

On  the  5th  day  of  August,  1854,  there  was  a  meeting  of  the  United 
Brethren  people  and  others  at  Bentz's  school-house,  at  which  time  a  constitu- 
tion w^as  adopted  designed  to  govern  those  w^ho  w^orshiped  at  the  school- 
house.  This  likely  was  preparatory  to  occupying  the  Mount  Zion  Church, 
which  was  erected  during  the  year  1854  at  a  cost  of  $845.42.  The  constitu- 
tion was  in  force  a  little  while,  probably  not  later  than  May  6,  1856,  at  which 
time  the  property  was  conveyed  to  the  United  Brethren  people.  The  work 
of  grace  spread  rapidly  over  the  country  bordering  on  the  South  Mountain. 
At  the  conference  in  session  in  York  County  January  21,  1858,  it  was  reported 
that  on  the  York  Spring  Circuit  there  w^ere  seventeen  appointments,  nine  or- 
ganized classes,  four  church  houses  and  253  members.  The  circuit  was  about 
thirty  miles  long  and  ten  or  twelve  miles  w^ide.  It  included  Cocklin's  ap- 
pointment, the  Lisburn  appointment,  both  in  Cumberland  County,  Filey's  in 
Monaghan,  Troutwine's,  Red  School-house  in  Carroll  ;  Mount  Zion,  in  War- 
rington ;  Franklintown,  and  perhaps  one  or  tv/o  other  appointments  in  York 
County,  and  a  number  of  appointments  in  Adams  County,  north  and  east  of 
the  Conewago  creek.  At  the  annual  conference  in  session  January  21,  1858, 
the  appointments  in  Cumberland  County  -were  detached  from  the  charge,  and 
at  the  following  conference  all  the  appointments  in  Adams  County  were  de- 
tached from  the  charge,  except  Hampton,  Bottom  School-house,  East  Berlin 
and  Gardner's.  These  appointments,  together  with  the  several  churches  and 
appointments  in  northern  York  County,  constituted  the  York  Spring  Circuit 
until  a  meeting  of  the  annual  conference  at  Greencastle  in  1887,  at  which 
time  the  appointments  in  York  County  w^ere  detached  from  York  Spring 
charge  and  constituted  the  Dillsburg  Circuit. 

Michael  Arnold  erected  the  Dogwood  Spring  Church  in  1856.  It  was 
located  one  mile  w^est  of  Dillsburg,  and  in  the  year  1 865  he  conveyed  the 
church  and  property  to  the  United  Brethren  Church.  A  Sunday  School  was 
organized  in  the  Beavertown  school-house  in  the  year  1850.  Lewis  Bender 
was  the  first  superintendent.  Soon  after  the  Dogwood  Springs  Church  was 
completed  the  Sunday  School  v/as  transferred  to  this  meeting-house,  and  for 
a  period  of  sixty  years  this  Sunday  School  has  been  in  operation,  and  during 
a  period  of  perhaps  forty  years  it  opened  every  Sabbath,  summer  and  w^inter, 
except  w^hen  the  w^eather  w^as  too  inclement.  This  is  know^n  now  as  the 
Arnold's  United  Brethren  Sunday  School. 

Bender's  class  was  organized  in  Bender's  cooper  shop,  a  mile  west  from 
the  Dogwood  Springs  Church,  in  the  year  1862.  Dr.  D.  Eberly  was  the  pastor 
at  that  time.  This  class  w^as  transferred  to  the  Dogwood  Springs  Church  in 
1865,  and  since  then  has  been  know^n  as  the  Arnold  class.  The  church 
was  rebuilt  during  the  year  1 880,  and  named  Arnold's  United  Brethren 
Church. 

Chestnut  Grove  class  was  organized  September  1  6,  1  864,  and  worshiped 
in  a  neat  little  church  located  about  two  miles  east  of  Dillsburg.  It  was  the 
outgrow^th  of  the  earlier  appointments  at  Filey's,  Troutw^ine's  and  the  Red 
School-house. 


194 


LANDMARK    HISTORY 


Calvary  Church  was  erected  in  Dillsburg  during  the  year  1  894,  and  dedi- 
cated to  God  in  the  month  of  March,  1895,  by  Bishop  J.  S.  Mills,  D.D.,  in 
connection  with  an  annual  conference  in  session  in  the  church  at  this  time. 
A  splendid  parsonage  was  erected  also  during  1894  at  a  cost  of  $2,500.  The 
charge  at  present  consists  of  four  congregations,  with  a  membership  of  265, 
and  a  property  valued  at  $13,500. 


THE      END 


SCRAPS  OF  LANDMARK  HISTORY 

CONCERNING 

"011}^  Hnitt^it  l^rctljrcn  in  (Ulirtst 

FOUND  IN 
VARIOUS  PARTS  OF 

"(S^lfe  O^riiunal  ITcrntary 

INCLUDING 

PLACES,  PERSONS  AND  FAMILIES 

HOMES,  CHURCHES  AND  SCHOOLS 

WITH  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES 

BY 

C.    I.   B.    BRANE 


^r^fcit^ 


N  presenting  the  following  matter  in  the  form  of  book 
literature  1  am  doing  what  was  not  originally  thought 
of.  Some  of  the  material  1  had  prepared  for  other  forms 
of  publication,  magazines,  newspapers  and  pamphlets, 
and  now  present  it  in  this  revised  and  condensed  form  for  perma- 
nent preservation.  As  to  the  character  of  the  work  put  on  this 
matter  I  have  nothing  to  say ;  but  concerning  the  value  of  the  raw 
material  I  am  sure  it  is  worth  saving.  The  ground  covered  by  the 
following  chapters  is  peculiarly  sacred  to  me,  because  it  was  in  or 
adjacent  to  parishes  I  have  served,  including  my  birth-place  and 
childhood  home,  to  which  my  heart  turns  with  tearful  tenderness 
in  this  October  term  of  life.  It  took  time,  toil  and  money  to  pick 
these  scraps  of  landmark  history  from  the  dust  and  debris  of  the 
century,  for  which  1  expect  less  than  nothing  in  the  shape  of  mate- 
rial remuneration.  But  the  real  compensation  was  found  in  the 
pursuit  and  enjoyment  of  these  results,  which  we  present  in  memory 
of  our  founders. 


d  J?/d.S, 


Christmas 
1910 


199 


United  Brethren  in  Lebanon  County 


CHAPTER    I 
FIRST    SETTLERS 


jBOUT  the  year  1719  a  man  by  the  name  of  John  Light  came 
to  America  from  the  Palatinate,  Germany,  and  located  in 
Lebanon  township,  Lancaster  County,  Pa.,  which  is  now 
Lebanon  County.  Some  twenty-two  years  later  he  secured 
by  patent  the  tract  of  land  on  which  he  had  settled,  and  the 
same  year  (1  742)  built  a  large  two-story  house,  which  served 
many  purposes  in  those  days  of  peril  and  hardships  on  the  part  of  the  "first 
settlers."  Aside  from  the  fact  that  John  Light  and  his  family  lived  in  that 
stone  structure,  divine  services  were  held  in  it  under  the  auspices  of  the 
Mennonites,  to  which  society  Mr.  Light  probably  belonged.  Moreover,  in 
seasons  of  peril,  especially 
during  the  French  and  In- 
dian w^ar,  it  became  a  place 
of  refuge  for  women  and 
children  for  many  miles 
around,  sheltering  as  many 
as  sixty  families  at  one 
time.  It  w^as  originally  en- 
closed by  a  stockade,  and 
was  called  "The  Old  Fort." 
The  accompanying  cut  w^as 
made  from  a  "snap-shot 
taken  by  the  writer.  The 
house  still  stands  north  of 
town   near  the   bed  of  the  ^''^^  *^'''  ^"'' 

old  Union  Canal,  and  is   occupied   as   a   dwelling  and   for   other   purposes — 
white  and  black  people,  horses,  dogs,  ducks  and — w^ell,  almost  everything! 

I  thus  refer  to  John  Light  and  his  old  home,  the  former  gone  to  his 
eternal  rew^ard,  and  the  latter  crumbling  into  decay,  for  the  simple  reason  that 
from  that  source  came  the  long  list  of  Lights  w^ho  pioneered  the  cause  of 
United  Brethrenism  in  Lebanon  County  from  1775  to  1850.  So,  from  Light's 
Old  Fort  in  Lebanon  to  our  far-off  mission  in  the  Philippines,  I  trace  the  trend 
of  their  godly  influence  in  our  church  life  and   labor. 

201 


202 


LANDMARK     HISTORY    OF    THE 


MEETING    AT    ISAAC    LONG'S 

The  history  of  the  United  Brethren  Church  in  Lebanon  County  dates  back 
to  1  767,  when  the  first  general  meeting  of  "the  unsectarian  ministers,"  as  our 
pioneer  preachers  were  commonly  called,  was  held  in  Isaac  Long's  barn,  near 
Lancaster,  Pa.  That  meeting  occurred  on  Whitsuntide,  and  sustained  the  same 
relation  to  United  Brethrenism   that  the    Pentecost  did    to   the  early  Christian 

church;  because  on 
that  occasion  the 
Holy  Spirit  came 
in  great  power  and 
moved  men  to 
speak  with  un- 
matched utterance 
concerning  the  af- 
fairs of  the  king- 
dom, and  clothed 
them  with  salvation 
as  with  a  garment. 
During  his  pastor- 
ate in  Lancaster 
our  imperial  lead- 
er, William  Otter- 
bein,  worked  his 
way   into   the  very 

heart  of  the  Gospel,  and  thus  reached  the  state  of  conscious  assurance  re- 
specting his  personal  acceptance  with  God.  With  divine  unction  and  utter- 
ance of  soul  never  before  realized,  he  preached  the  doctrine  of  regeneration, 
just  as  Jesus  did  to  Nicodemus,  and  thus  made  it  one  of  the  fundamental 
features  of  our  faith.  Moreover,  as  Lancaster  historically  and  doctrinally 
stands  for  the  new  birth  in  our  ecclesiastical  calandar,  so  Isaac  Long's  barn, 
for  a  similar  reason,  represents  the  source  and  development  of  our  spiritual 
life  and  powder,  emphatically  declaring  that  through  the  ministry  of  the  Com- 
forter alone  the  children  of  men  and  the  churches  they  establish  can  be  trans- 
formed into  the  image  of  Jesus  and  adequately  equipped  for  service.  Thus 
the  church  w^as  conceived  in  the  spirit  of  conscious  need  and  enjoyment  con- 
cerning all  the  divinely-appointed  resources  of  our  redemption,  including  the 
preaching  of  the  Word,  the  cleansing  power  of  the  blood  and  the  ministry 
of  the  Holy  Spirit,  w^ho  takes  of  the  things  of  Jesus  and  savingly  presents 
them  to  the  soul.  By  a  universal  law  of  our  spiritual  nature,  those  who  look 
into  the  law  of  God  are  changed  into  the  same  image  from  glory  to  glory ; 
and,  by  the  reflex  influence  of  that  same  law^,  through  w^hich  we  unconsciously 
acquire  the  moral  and  spiritual  qualities  of  those  w^hose  characters  w^e  approv- 
ingly contemplate,  the  man  who  affectionately  looks  into  the  face   of  Jesus  is 


Isaac  Longs  Home 


UNITED    BRETHREN    CHURCH  203 

straightway  transformed  into  his  lovely  likeness.  For  the  transforming  in- 
fluence and  effect  of  that  vision,  which  costs  absolutely  nothing  in  dollars  and 
cents,  except  that  which  an  honest  man  is  bound  to  reject  as  the  price  of 
principle  or  manhood,  one  might  well  forego  the  comforts  of  all  his  physical 
faculties,  suffer  his  eyes  to  be  plucked  out,  know^ing  that  thereby  he  shall  see 
the  King  in  His  beauty  and  behold  the  Only  Begotten  of  the  Father,  full  of 
truth  and  grace. 

Therefore  these  men,  realizing  the  peril  of  sin  and  the  w^orth  of  souls, 
knew^  that  even  a  lovely  landscape  like  the  Lebanon  Valley,  with  its  bound- 
less resources  of  material  w^ealth,  must  prove  a  cold  and  barren  community 
w^ithout  the  life-giving  influence  of  the  Sun  of  Righteousness  in  the  soul  of  the 
settler. 

Soon  after  the  town  of  Lebanon  was  laid  out,  and  w^hen  most  of  our  fair 
fields  and  fertile  farms  w^ere  still  covered  with  forests  upon  w^hich  the  keen 
blade  of  the  w^oodman's  ax  had  not  yet  been  tried,  and  through  v/hich  w^ild 
beasts  and  wilder  Indians  still  roamed,  the  one  often  in  hot  pursuit  of  the 
other,  the  w^ork  of  a  soul-saving  evangelism  was  organized  and  entered  upon 
in  those  sections  of  the  State  already  referred  to,  the  movement  being  pio- 
neered by  a  company  of  plain  but  pious  preachers,  chiefly  of  the  Mennonite 
Society,  but  including  members  of  almost  every  other  Protestant  persuasion 
in  the  State.  At  that  time  the  trend  of  church  life,  in  spite  of  the  faithfulness 
of  the  fev/  ministers  then  employed  to  preach  the  Gospel,  w^as  largely  nega- 
tive and  neutral,  affording  little  or  no  stimulation  to  spiritual  enterprise. 
Moreover,  this  w^as  the  period  immediately  preceding  the  Revolutionary 
War,  which  w^as  additionally  demoralizing  and  detrimental  to  religion.  Fortun- 
ately for  those  who  have  been  favorably  affected  by  United  Brethrenism,  the 
period  of  religious  indifference  to  which  I  refer  was  broken  by  the  great  Pente- 
costal meeting  at  Isaac  Long's  to  which  I  have  already  alluded,  where  people  of 
every  name  and  order,  and  from  widely  separate  communities,  met  for  public 
w^orship  and  religious  counsel  in  a  large  barn,  w^here  Martin  Boehm,  a  Men- 
nonite minister,  preached  the  Gospel  w^ith  such  w^onderful  power  and  unction 
that  hundreds  v/ere  led  to  Christ  through  that  simple  sermon,  at  the  close  of 
which  William  Otterbein,  a  Reformed  minister,  tearfully  took  the  plain 
preacher  in  his  long  arms  and  said :  "We  are  Brethren."  That  affectionate 
utterance  and  fraternal  scene,  heard  and  observed  by  a  sobbing  multitude  who 
occupied  every  inch  of  available  space  in  the  large  building,  including  a 
double  "barn  floor,  "  "over-shoot "  and  hay  mows,  and  a  large  space  just  out- 
side the  doors,  suggested  the  appropriate  name  of  the  church,  "United 
Brethren."  The  additional  phrase,  "in  Christ,"  was  accepted  w^hen  the  Church 
w^as  formally  organized  at  Frederick,  Md.,  in  1  800. 

The  Pentecostal  meeting  at  Isaac  Long's  lasted  several  days,  and  w^as 
very  largely  attended.  It  was  probably  arranged  for  by  Mr.  Boehm,  who  was 
the  Peter  of  that  occasion,  and  preached  a  wonderful  sermon.  The  tradi- 
tional testimony  concerning  the  power  of  that  sermon  and  the  spiritual  influ- 
ence   of   the   succeeding   services   is   that,    go    where   you  would    among  the 


204  LANDMARK     HISTORYOFTHE 

thousands  present,  including  representatives  of  all  denominations,  the  people 
walked  and  talked  under  the  influence  of  God's  Word  and  Spirit.  Between 
services  it  w^as  a  common  thing  to  find  groups  of  people  praising  God  or 
pleading  for  mercy.  The  inspiration  of  God  was  upon  them,  and  their  chief 
concern  w^as  the  matter  of  salvation.  O  that  God  would  again  anoint  his 
people  w^ith  power,  and  make  his  "ministers  a  flame  of  fire. "  Then  would 
Zion  go  forth,  "fair  as  the  moon,  clear  as  the  sun,  and  terrible  as  an  army 
w^ith  banners.  " 

The  tw^o  men  who  affectionately  embraced  each  other  at  the  close  of  the 
sermon  in  Isaac  Long's  barn,  Otterbein  and  Boehm,  w^ere  appropriately  and 
unanimously  chosen  bishops  when  the  Church  w^as  formally  organized  thirty- 
three  years  later.  Indeed,  the  culmination  of  the  meeting  at  Isaac  Long's  w^as 
the  organization  of  the  Church  of  the  United  Brethren  in  Christ.  Before  the 
leaders  separated  they  held  a  conference  in  which  they  agreed  upon  a  basis 
of  doctrinal  harmony  and  mutual  co-operation,  and  made  arrangements  to 
enlarge  the  work  and  extend  their  influence  much  more  v/idely,  especially  in 
the  states  of  Pennsylvania,  Maryland  and  Virginia.  This  gave  new^  life  and 
distinctive  features  to  the  revival  movement,  and  made  it  almost  a  w^orld-wide 
influence  for  good  ;  for  w^e  now^  have  a  communicant  membership  of  275,000, 
vv^ith  congregations  from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific,  including  missions  in 
Africa,  China,  Japan,  Porto  Rico,  and  the  Philippine  Islands. 

In  Lebanon  County  the  United  Brethren  Church  now  has  a  membership 
of  over  5,000,  including  more  than  thirty  churches  and  one  educational  insti- 
tution— Lebanon  Valley  College.  As  to  the  ministers  who  originally  pioneered 
the  cause  of  United  Brethrenism  in  Pennsylvania,  four  were  natives  of  Lebanon 
County,  namely:  Martin  Kreider,  Abraham  Draksel,  Casper  Sherk  and  Felix 
Light. 

In  the  year  I  767  four  things  occurred  which  had  much  to  do  with  this 
great  revival  movement  and  the  history  of  the  United  Brethren  Church.  The 
things  to  w^hich  I  refer  are  these :  the  Pentecostal  meeting  at  Isaac  Long's, 
the  conversion  of  Martin  Kreider  and  Christian  New^comer,  and  the  birth  of 
Felix  Light.  Moreover,  it  is  claimed  traditionally  that  the  three  former  events 
happened  on  Whitsuntide.  The  far-reaching  influence  of  those  four  events 
may  be  inferred  from  the  fact  that  the  Pentecostal  meeting  at  Isaac  Long's 
resulted  in  plans  which  led  to  the  organization  of  the  Church,  and  in  the  con- 
version of  Martin  Kreider  and  Christian  New^comer  the  revival  movement 
gained  the  co-operation  of  two  great  and  gifted  men.  Mr.  Newcomer  became 
a  bishop  in  the  Church  and  labored  more  widely  and  abundantly  than  any  of 
his  co-laborers.  As  for  Felix  Light,  he  w^as  then  placed  in  the  line  of  promo- 
tion, not  to  the  same  position  in  the  Church,  but  to  the  same  prominence  in 
the  work  of  the  Master  twenty-five  years  later. 


UNITED    BRETHREN    CHURCH 


205 


REV.    MARTIN    KREIDER 


Martin  Kreider  stood  next  to  Boehm  and  Otterbein  in  point  of  age  and 
service  in  the  Church.  He  was  the  son  of  John  Kreider,  and  hved  about  a 
mile  or  two  south  of  Lebanon,  where  he  also  died  and  w^as  buried.  He  w^as 
born  February  1  4, 
1740,  and  died 
November  14, 
1826.  His  remains 
lie  on  the  old  home 
farm,  and  his  grave 
is  marked  by  a  na- 
tive limestone.  His 
home  was  one  of 
the  first  United 
Brethren  preaching 
places  in  the  county 
and  state.  Mr. 
Kreider  married 
Miss  Catharine 
Schmutz,  who  lived 
a  few^  miles   south 

„f       I    „U„ „         „„J  Kreider's  Graveyard 

or     Lebanon,     and 

was   a   neighbor   of   Abraham    Leroy,    whose    daughter,    Susan,    became   the 

beloved   wife   of  William   Otterbein,  the   founder   of   the   United   Brethren  in 

Christ. 


REV.    ABRAHAM    DRAKSEL 


Another  prominent  person  in  this  great  revival  movement  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  especially  in  Lebanon  County,  was  Abraham  Draksel,  w^ho  stood 
next  to  Martin  Kreider  in  point  of  age  and  service  in  the  Church,  and  was 
born  in  Lebanon  County  in  1  753.  His  home  w^as  about  two  miles  north  of 
Lebanon,  on  the  farm  afterw^ards  owned  and  occupied  by  Mr.  Lewis  Yingst, 
grandfather  of  Mrs.  A.  B.  Schropp,  w^here  a  sacramental  meeting  of  great 
interest  and  power  was  held  on  the  first  day  of  May,  1  796.  The  meeting 
lasted  several  days,  during  w^hich  time  Christian  New^comer,  of  Beaver  Creek, 
Md.,  George  A.  Geeting,  of  Antietam,  Md.,  and  Martin  Boehm,  of  Lancaster 
County,  Pa.,  preached  in  "demonstration  of  the  Spirit  and  of  power."  In 
recording  the  events  of  the  meeting  and  the  character  of  the  services.  New- 
comer says  that  the  occasion  was  one  of  unusual  interest  and  influence,  and 
that  the  people  present  were  melted  to  tears  and  moved  to  the  endurance  of 
higher  motives  by  the  preaching  of  the  Word.  As  to  Mr.  Draksel,  he  did  not 
preach  on  that  occasion,  because  the  services  were  held  at  his  home,  which 


206  LANDMARK    HISTORYOFTHE 

was  one  of  the  first  preaching  places  estabhshed  in  the  county  and  state. 
Mr.  Draksel  had  been  an  Amish  minister,  being  born  and  brought  up  in  that 
faith  ;  but  the  evangeHcal  character  of  his  preaching,  which  invariably  included 
the  element  of  regeneration,  w^as  a  source  of  annoyance  to  his  brethren  in  the 
church,  w^ho  requested  him  to  eliminate  that  feature  from  his  sermons,  w^hich 
he  refused  to  do.  Finally  his  Amish  brethren  officially  notified  him  that  he 
must  cease  preaching;  and  therefore  he  was  called  "the  silenced  preacher." 
Of  course  Mr.  Draksel  continued  the  w^ork  of  an  evangelist,  and  became  one 
of  the  most  deservedly  distinguished  men  in  the  ministry  of  the  church  at  that 
time,  because  of  his  abundant  labors,  sw^eet  spirit.  Gospel  sermons  and  blame- 
less life.  He  is  said  to  have  lived  on  a  plane  of  Christian  thought  and  activity 
that  made  his  life  a  spiritual  lighthouse  and  his  personality  a  fingerboard  to 
the  kingdom ;  and  that  his  beaming  countenance,  which  w^as  lit  up  with  an 
optimistic  faith  in  God  and  the  Gospel,  invariably  indexed  an  exuberance  of 
spiritual  joy  in  the  prosecution  of  his  high  calling.  In  I  782  he  thus  associated 
himself  with  the  United  Brethren  Church  ;  and  for  twenty-tw^o  years  thereafter 
lived  and  labored  in  Lebanon  County.  In  I  804  Mr.  Draksel  removed  to  the 
vicinity  of  Mt.  Pleasant,  Westmoreland  County,  Pa.,  where  he  settled  with  his 
family  and  established  the  church.  His  beautiful  personality  is  pictured  in 
these  w^ords :  A  lover  of  good  men,  the  embodiment  of  hospitality,  and  a 
giver  of  much  alms  to  the  afflicted  and  needy.  He  and  Martin  Kreider  were 
members  of  the  first  United  Brethren  conference,  which  met  in  Baltimore, 
Md.,  in  I  789.  He  died  at  his  home  near  Mt.  Pleasant,  Pa.,  in  the  73d  year 
of  his  age. 

CASPERSHERK 

Casper  Sherk  was  also  an  element  of  personal  pow^er  in  the  revival  move- 
ment instituted  and  carried  forward  by  Otterbein  and  Boehm.  He  lived  in 
Bethel  tow^nship,  and  v/as  a  devout  member  of  the  Mennonite  church ;  but 
when  he  w^as  born  from  above  he  embraced  a  more  spiritual  experience  of 
life  than  he  formerly  enjoyed,  and  straightway  extended  his  sympathy  and 
support  to  the  unsectarian  preachers,  including  their  evangelistic  plan  and 
purpose.  I  think  he  never  formally  withdrew^  from  his  church,  but  that  he 
practically  identified  himself  with  the  United  Brethren  Church  in  work  and 
w^orship  there  is  no  doubt.  Retaining  the  w^armth  of  personal  affection  for 
his  early  church  associations,  he  now^  gave  his  life  for  the  promotion  of  the 
spiritual  welfare  of  the  community  at  large,  and  finally  found  himself  in  fel- 
lowship with  the  new  organization.  It  is  said  that  Mr.  Sherk  was  anxious  that 
his  daughter  Barbara,  a  beautiful  young  lady,  should  marry  a  member  of  the 
Mennonite  church,  and  to  that  end  counseled  her  concerning  the  visits  of  a 
certain  Felix  Light,  who  seems  to  have  enjoyed  no  church  affiliations  at  that 
time,  suggesting  that  she  drop  him  for  some  one  among  several  in  the  church 
upon  whom  he  looked  with  favor.  But,  fortunately  for  all  concerned,  Cupid 
had  started  the  stream  of  affection  in  the  direction  of  young  Light,  and  nothing 


UNITEDBRETHRENCHURCH  207 

the  father  could  say  seemed  equal  to  the  task  of  turning  it  out  of  that  deep 
and  deHghtful  channel ;  so,  one  Sunday  morning,  while  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Casper 
Sherk  vs^ere  at  church,  Mr.  Felix  Light  came  and  took  Miss  Barbara  to  Ann- 
ville,  where  they  were  secretly  married.  In  those  days  carriages  w^ere  scarce 
and  horse-back  riding  w^as  common ;  so  young  Light  took  Miss  Sherk  behind 
him  on  his  horse,  and  thus  consummated  their  matrimonial  vows.  Of  course 
the  naughty  pair  were  forgiven  by  Mr.  Sherk,  who  soon  after  experienced  the 
comforts  of  saving  grace,  and  straightw^ay  led  his  son-in-law^,  w^hom  he  now 
loved  as  his  own  child,  into  the  light  and  liberty  of  God's  dear  children. 


REV.    FELIX    LIGHT 

Felix  Light  lived  on  the  outskirts  of  Lebanon,  where  the  American  Iron 
and  Steel  Works  are  now  located.  He  became  a  minister  of  the  Gospel  and 
one  of  the  most  able  and  faithful  representatives  that  Christianity  ever  had. 
In  his  physical  form  and  features  he  w^as  the  embodiment  of  strength  and 
beauty.  He  was  six  feet  and  three  inches  in  height  and  w^eighed  tw^o  hundred 
and  forty  pounds.  Moreover,  his  fine  mental  and  spiritual  endowments 
increased  the  comeliness  of  his  personal  appearance,  especially  in  the  pulpit, 
where  the  force  of  his  fervor  and  the  charm  of  his  logic  was  a  lifted  up  Christ, 
in  w^hom  he  led  many  to  exercise  saving  faith.  When  he  was  about  forty 
years  old  he  left  the  farm  in  the  hands  of  his  boys,  and  gave  himself  almost 
exclusively  to  the  work  of  an  evangelist,  preaching  every  four  weeks  at  Leb- 
anon, Jonestown,  Kauffman's  and  Gingrich's,  and  every  six  w^eeks  at  Weiss', 
Sherk's  Dinger's,  Kendig's  and  Strohm's,  in  addition  to  which  he  had  many 
special  engagements  and  preached  many  funeral  sermons.  As  a  pastor  he 
was  faithful  and  efficient — w^onderfully  gifted  and  enterprising — and  went 
from  house  to  house  conversing  with  the  people  concerning  their  spiritual 
w^elfare,  relieving  the  wants  of  the  poor,  sympathizing  with  the  afflicted,  and 
thus  gave  counsel  and  comfort  to  all.  Finally,  as  if  to  "cap  the  climax "  of 
that  great  and  good  man's  gratification  of  heart  and  life,  and  to  multiply  his 
blessed  personality  among  the  elders  of  Israel,  God  called  his  three  sons, 
John,  Casper  and  Joseph,  into  the  ministry.  They  became  leaders  in  religious 
thought  and  feeling  in  the  county,  and  also  extended  their  labors  and  influence 
into  other  communities. 

J  OH  N    LIG  HT 

Mr.  "John  Light,  tanner,"  who  was  born  in  1800  and  lived  in  Bethel 
tow^nship,  w^as  a  man  of  great  faith  and  simplicity  of  soul,  and  bore  in  his 
body  the  marks  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  as  did  Paul  before  him.  His  conversion 
w^as  the  event  of  his  life,  and  placed  him  in  the  line  of  promotion  to  great 
usefulness  in   the   community,  w^here   he   lived   and   labored   w^ith   increasing 


208 


LANDMARK    HISTORY    OF    THE 


fidelity  to  the  cause  of  pure  and  undefiled  religion,  never  losing  an  opportu- 
nity to  speak  for  Christ,  whose  witness 
he  w^as.  The  realities  of  religion  w^ere 
embodied  in  his  personal  experience,  which 
he  used  to  relate  with  soul-thrilling  power, 
because  he  spoke  out  of  the  fullness  of  a 
loyal,  loving  heart.  His  utterances  were 
alw^ays  a  matter  of  interest  to  saint  and 
sinner,  because  his  godly  life  had  the  "right 
of  w^ay"  in  their  thought  and  feeling.  The 
people  had  implicit  confidence  in  this 
"peculiar"  man,  w^ho  translated  the  cross 
into  character,  and  exemplified  the  spirit 
of  Jesus  in  all  the  relations  of  life,  from 
Sunday  to  Sunday.  When  the  chariot  of 
Israel  came  for  his  soul  he  w^as  87  years  of 
age.  His  remains  lie  in  the  graveyard  at 
Wolfe's  Meeting  House,  betw^een  Fred- 
ericksburg and  Mt.  Zion,  w^here  the  sound 
of  the  resurrection  trumpet  shall  find  him, 
and  he  will  come  forth  in  the  garb  of  a 
o  n    ig    .      anner  Spiritualized    adornment.       Bless    God    for 

the  triumphant  resurrection  of  his  Son  ! 


JACOB    WEISS 


About  the  year  1 800  Felix  Light  and  his  three  sons,  John,  Casper  and 
Joseph,  visited  the  home  of  Mr.  Jacob  Weiss,  near  Schaefferstown,  held  divine 
services  and  arranged  for  regular  preaching  there  every  four  weeks  under  the 
auspices  of  the  United  Brethren  Church.  From  that  time  on  till  the  church 
was  built  in  Schaefferstown,  the  Weiss  home  was  a  regular  preaching  place 
for  our  people,  and  a  religious  centre  from  w^hich  radiated  the  light  and 
influence  of  the  Gospel  for  many  miles  around.  The  services  were  originally 
held  in  a  frame  house  wrhich  was  built  about  1  799.  But  in  1820  Mr.  Weiss 
built  the  brick  structure,  v/hich  still  stands ;  and  when  the  family  moved  from 
the  old  frame  house  into  the  new  brick  dwelling,  a  religious  service  of  a 
dedicatory  character  was  held  in  it  by  Felix  Light  and  his  sons  under  United 
Brethren  auspices.  From  that  on  for  a  period  of  fifty  years  the  Weiss  home 
was  a  public  sanctuary,  and  through  the  influence  of  the  services  held  in  that 
godly  home,  hundreds  of  souls  were  saved  from  sin  and  finally  exalted  to 
heaven's  eternal  felicity.  The  house  itself  was  well  built,  and  the  home  w^as 
a  model  one.  Here  Mr.  John  Weiss,  son  of  the  builder,  lived  and  reared  a 
lovely  family,  most  of  whom  became  members  of  the  church  and  devoted 
Christians.     Judge  John  Weiss,  of  Harrisburg,  Mr.  Jacob  S.  Weiss,  of  Salunga, 


UNITED     BRETHREN     CHURCH 


209 


Mrs.  Mary  Reitzel,  of  Chicago,  and  the  late  Mrs.  EHzabeth  Light,  wife  of  Mr. 
Asaph  S.  Light,  of  Lebanon,  were  all  reared  in  the  home  of  which  I  speak. 
One  of  them  recently  spoke 
to  the  writer  concerning  those 
early  days  of  worship  in  the 
dear  old  home,  and  said,  "They 
made  impressions  on  my 
young  heart  and  mind  that 
the  world  can  neither  give  nor 
take  aw^ay.  I  would  not  part 
with  them  for  anything  that 
the  world  might  offer,  for  they 
have  been  a  comfort  and  a 
joy  to  me  all  my  life.  And 
those  dear  people  who  came 
to  the  services,  the  men  plain- 
ly clad  and  the  v/omen  in 
calico  dresses  and  gingham  sunbonnets,  I  shall  meet  and  know^  in  the  better 
land."     Bless  God  for  these  tender  memories  and  sweet  hopes  ! 


The  Weiss  Home 


GEO.    A.     MARK,    SR. 

Mr.  George  A.  Mark,  Sr.,  who  was  born  in  Lebanon  County,  Pa.,  on  the 
6th  of  November,  1  790,  was  another  man  of  God  whose  influence  was  widely 
felt  and  largely  blessed  to  the  glory  of  God  and  the  salvation  of  souls.  In 
the  days  of  his  youth,  when  he  w^as  only  seventeen  years  of  age,  he  w^as  con- 
verted— gave  his  heart  to  God  and  joined  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church ; 
but  in  1  840,  chiefly  because  he  was  German  and  the  Methodist  services  were 
conducted  in  the  English  language  exclusively,  he  brought  his  credentials  to 
the  United  Brethren  Church  and  opened  his  home  for  regular  preaching 
services.  On  the  30th  of  January,  1817,  he  vv^as  married  to  Christianna 
Runkle,  by  w^hom  he  had  six  children,  one  son,  Rev.  Geo.  A.  Mark,  Jr.,  and 
five  daughters,  one  of  whom  married  Rev.  Samuel  Etter.  The  influence  of 
Mr.  Mark's  life  was  an  unbroken  expression  of  praise  to  God,  and  likewise  a 
matter  of  comfort  and  encouragement  to  those  who  were  striving  to  serve 
God,  especially  the  young  Christian,  for  whose  perseverance  in  well-doing 
he  manifested  great  concern.  He  died  in  Annville  December  26,  1868,  and 
was  buried  beside  his  w^ife. 


LIGHT'S    MEETING    HOUSE 

The  first  church  built  and  occupied  by  the  United  Brethren  in  Lebanon 
County  stood  on  a  triangular  piece  of  ground  just  north  of  the  old  Pinegrove 
road,  at  the  intersection  of  Seventh  and  Lehman  Streets,  Lebanon.     It  is  said 


210 


LANDMARK    HISTORY    OF    THE 


that  Felix  Light  largely  built  this  church  at  his  own  expense,  and  especially 
for  the  United  Brethren  Church,  with  which  he  and  his  father-in-law  were 
now  practically  identified,  though  the  property  was  deeded  as  a  Union  Men- 

nonite  Meeting 
House  to  Felix 
Light,  Martin  Light 
and  Abraham 
Light.  It  was  ap- 
propriately called 
"Light's  Meeting 
House;"  for  the 
Lights  were  the 
"leading  Lights"  in 
the  erection  of  the 
house,  which  w^as 
a  brick  structure  40 
X  60  feet,  with  end 

Light's  Meeting  House  J         J         1_1  "J 

^  and      double     side 

doors,  with  graveyard  extending  south  along  Seventh  Street  to  the  Pinegrove 
road,  as  shown  in  cut.  The  deed  w^as  made  on  the  26th  of  May,  and  w^as 
recorded  two  years  later. 

In  1829  one  of  the  trustees  invited  Rev.  John  Seibert,  the  first  bishop  of 
the  Evangelical  Association,  to  preach  in  Light's  Meeting  House,  because  he 
thought  our  people  were  a  little  too  quiet  and  "unspiritual."  Rev.  Seibert 
preached  in  the  "demonstration  of  the  Spirit  and  of  pow^er, "  but  not  to  the 
satisfaction  of  a  few  United  Brethren  and  Mennonites,  who  said  that  the 
shouting  and  jumping  evoked  by  such  preaching  w^as  an  injury  to  the  meet- 
ing house  and  must  be  stopped.  But  Rev.  Seibert  thought  differently.  He 
said  he  could  not  see  how^  a  brick  church,  standing  on  a  limestone  founda- 
tion, could  be  injured  by  a  little  jumping,  but  thought  it  might  be  detrimental 
to  the  frozen  feelings  and  formal  religion  of  those  who  worshiped  in  that 
house. 


ANNVILLE    CHURCH 


The  next  oldest  United  Brethren  Church  was  erected  in  Annville  in  1823. 
Then  there  was  preaching  in  Lebanon  and  Annville  every  four  w^eeks  by  the 
pastor  of  Lancaster  Circuit,  w^hich  included  appointments  in  Lancaster,  Leba- 
non, Berks  and  Dauphin  Counties. 

The  original  United  Brethren  Church  at  Annville  w^as  located  near  Ging- 
rich's Mill,  at  the  west  end  of  the  town.  I  have  heard  that  it  was  called 
"Gingrich's  Church "  and  "Herr's  Meeting  House. "  It  was  46  x  55  feet  in 
size,  and  was  built  of  limestone.  The  accompanying  cut  was  originally  drawn 
by  Mr.  Cornelius  Smith,  and  is  considered  by  those  who  saw^  and  worshiped 
in  the  church,  a  perfect  reproduction  of  the   old   house.     Most   of  those  w^ho 


UNITED     BRETHREN     CHURCH 


21t 


worshiped  in  "Herr's  Meeting  House"  have  gone  to  their  home  on  high ;  but 
their  work  and  influence  are  em- 
bodied in  a  large  and  influential 
congregation  of  Christian  peo- 
ple, w^ho  w^orship  in  a  large, 
pleasant  church  in  the  centre  of 
the  town. 

Moreover,  Annville  is  the  seat 
of  Lebanon  Valley  College,  an 
institution  of  learning  whose  influ- 
ence for  good  is  far-reaching  and 
w^hose  fame  is  vs^idespread,  and  it 
enjoys  the  advantage  of  all  that 
goes  to  make  up  the  benediction 
of  such  an  institution  of  learning. 
With  the  benefits  of  the  College 
is  included  the  inspiration  of 
four  hundred  students  and  the 
presence  of  the  faculty,  which  is 
large  and  influential.     Dr.  Lawrence  Kiester  is  the  president 


"fe*'  ^^ 


33;      p 


First  Church  at  Annville,  1823 


SHERK'S    MEETING    HOUSE 


In  1825  the  Mennonites  built  "Sherk's  Meeting  House,"  in   East  Hanover 
township,  but  the  United  Brethren  had  no  interest  in  that  church,  though  they 

worshiped  in  the 
neighborhood  long 
before  itw^as  built; 
but  in  1833,  when 
the  Mennonite  pas- 
tor died  and  his 
people  became  few^ 
and  ceased  to  hold 
regular  services 
there.  Rev.  Jacob 
Erb,  who  baptized 
Rev.  John  Wine- 
brenner,  the  foun- 
der of  the  Church 
of  God,  was  granted 
the  use  of  the  house 
for  public  worship, 
^,     ,,  ,,  ,.  and  is  said  to  have 

Sherk  s  Meeting  House,  1825 

organized  the  first 
United  Brethren  class  that  was  formed  east  of  the  Susquehanna  River.     The 


212 


LANDMARK    HISTORY    OF    THE 


following  are  the  names  of  the  original  members  of  that  class:  William  Run- 
kle  and  wife,  Michael  Maulfair  and  wife,  Henry  Miller  and  wife,  Jacob  Albert 
and  wife,  Isaiah  Neidig  and  wife,  Jacob  Harper  and  wife,  George  Bomberger 
and  wife,  and  David  Winter  and  wife.  In  I  844,  seven  years  after  the  Men- 
nonites  abandoned  regular  service  there,  "Sherk's  Meeting  House,"  by  an  act 
of  the  General  Assembly  of  Pennsylvania,  was  sold  by  Jacob  Sherk  to  Jacob 
Albert,  George  Bomberger  and  Henry  Neidig,  trustees  of  the  United  Brethren 
in  Christ. 


BRIGHTBILL'S    CHURCH 


In  1 842    Brightbill's  Church  was   built.     It  is  located  several  miles  south- 
west of  Annville,  but  is  not  occupied  by  the  United  Brethren,  who  recently 

sold  it  to  Mr.  Bals- 
baugh.  It  is  a  sub- 
stantial  stone  struc- 
ture, one  story  and 
a  basement,  and 
very  beautifully  sit- 
uated. On  the  4th 
of  March,  184  7,  the 
first  separate  ses- 
sion of  the  East 
Pennsylvania  Con- 
ference was  held 
in  B  r  i  g  h  t  b  i  Il's 
Church,  Bishop 
Hanby,  whose  son 
"Ben"  wrote  "Nellie 
Gray,"  w^ords  and 
music,      presiding. 

About  this  time  churches  were  built  at  Schaefferstown,  Kauffman's  and  the 
Water  Works.  At  the  latter  place  a  frame  church,  which  is  still  standing, 
was  built  by  Jacob  Heilman  and  Michael  Seltzer,  the  latter  assisted  by  his 
son  Peter. 


"Brechtbill's  Meaten  House" 


MYERSTOWN    CHURCH 


In  1 844  a  one-story  stone  church  was  built  on  Cherry  Street,  in  Myers- 
town,  where  occasional  services  had  been  previously  held  under  United 
Brethren  influences  in  private  houses.  In  1842  Rev.  Samuel  Enterline  w^as 
appointed  to  Lebanon  Circuit,  which  then  included  Sinking  Spring,  Schaeffers- 
town, Fredericksburg,  Myerstown  and  other  points.  After  several  unsuccess- 
ful efforts  to  secure  a    preaching  place   in    Myerstown,  Rev.  Enterline,  in  the 


UNITED    BRETHREN    CHURCH 


213 


spring  of  1843,  preached  a  sermon  in  the  centre  of  the  town,  and  at  the  close 
of  the  service  Mr.  John  Daniels,  who  was  somewhat  under  the  influence  of 
strong  drink,  invited  the  pastor  to  preach  at  his  home  the  next  time,  assuring 
him  of  an  abundant  w^elcome.  "Perhaps,"  said  the  preacher,  "when  you  cool 
off  you  w^ill  not  keep  your  promise."  But  the  tipsy  man  said  he  wrould  keep 
his  w^ord  ;  so  an  appointment  vs^as  made  for  the  25th  of  April,  1843,  vs^hen 
Rev.  Mr.  Enterline  spoke  to  a  crowded  house  and  stayed  for  the  night  with 
Mr.  Daniel  Meyers.  During  the  night  the  preacher  w^as  sent  for  by  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  John  Meyers,  w^hom  he  found  in  a  state  of  deep  distress  on  account  of 
their  sins,  pleading  for  mercy  at  the  throne  of  grace.  Before  morning  both 
w^ere  happily  converted  and  became  the  first-fruits  of  Mr.  Enterline's  ministry 
in  Myerstov/n.  At  their  request  a  three-weeks  meeting  was  held  at  their 
home,  and  the  result  v/as  the  conversion  of  thirty  souls,  including  the  tipsy 
man  who  had  invited  the  first  appointment,  and  his  wife,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John 
Daniels.  On  the  26th  of  October,  1843,  a  class  of  thirteen  members  was 
organized  as  follows :  John  Meyers,  Sarah  Meyers,  Daniel  Meyers,  Catharine 
Meyers,  Jonas  Eckert,  Nancy  Eckert,  John  Daniels,  Anna  Mary  Daniels,  Susan 
B.  Meyers,  Nicholas  Eckert,  Daniel  Meyers,  Jr.,  Catharine  Camber  and  Catha- 
rine Eckert.  The  organization  of  this  class  led  to  the  erection  of  the  stone 
church  already  referred  to;  and  in  1870  the  present  substantial  brick  structure 
was  erected  at  a  cost  of  $8,000. 

SALEM    CHURCH 


In  1845,  under  the  pastoral  care  of  Rev.  Christian  Smith  Kreider,  grand- 
son of  Rev.  Martin  Krei- 
der, the  co-laborer  of 
Boehm  and  Otterbein,  a 
new^  stone  church  v^as 
erected  under  the  aus- 
pices of  the  United  Breth- 
ren on  the  southeast  cor- 
ner of  Ninth  and  Church 
Streets,  Lebanon,  by  the 
congregation  w^hich  had 
worshiped  for  many 
years  in  Light's  Meeting 
House  on  Seventh  Street, 
which  nowtookthename 
of  "Salem  United  Breth- 
ren Church."  So  far  as 
the  denomination  is  con- 
cerned, Salem  congrega- 

.  •  •      .  1  .1  L     .,    L  Salem  Church,  Lebanon 

tion  IS  the  mother  church 

of  Lebanon  County,  and  is  probably  the  third  or  fourth  that  was  established 


214  LANDMARK    HISTORY    OF    THE 

in  the  State,  "Neidig's"  Meeting  House  at  Oberlin,  Dauphin  County,  being  the 
firsts  1  795.  Salem  Church  has  included  in  her  membership  many  persons  of 
prominence  in  the  business  and  religious  affairs  of  the  community,  among 
whom  were  Casper  Light,  Abraham  Sherk,  William  Light,  Abraham  Miller, 
Felix  H.  Light,  John  Kochenderfer,  Jacob  Light,  William  Hornafius,  Joseph 
Zimmerman  and  Gideon  Light,  the  three  first  mentioned  being  the  board  of 
trustees  when  the  stone  church  was  erected  in  1845,  and  to  whom  the  site 
was  deeded  by  Michael  and  Elizabeth  Hoag,  on  the  1  7th  of  September,  1845, 
for  $200.  But  the  growing  needs  of  the  congregation  required  the  erection 
of  a  larger  and  more  modern  house  of  worship ;  so,  under  the  directing  hand 
of  Rev.  H.  S.  Gabel,  the  present  edifice  was  built  at  a  cost  of  $15,000.  "Old 
Salem"  is  large  and  influential,  numbering  about  six  hundred  members. 

in  the  last  decade  of  the  eighteenth  century  the  United  Brethren  had  but 
one  "circuit,"  and  that  extended  from  Lebanon  to  Harrisburg,  and  from  there 
up  the  Cumberland  Valley  to  Hagerstown ;  thence  east  to  Frederick,  and 
from  there  north  to  Littlestown,  York,  Columbia,  Lancaster,  Sinking  Spring, 
and  then  back  to  Lebanon.  In  making  that  round  Christian  Newcomer, 
Henry  Krum,  George  A.  Geeting,  Joseph  Huffman,  Henry  Hiestand,  John 
Neidig  and  Felix  Light  preached  at  Martin  Kreider's,  Abraham  Draksel's  and 
in  Light's  Meeting  House.  Then,  in  1825,  Lebanon  was  an  appointment  on 
Lancaster  Circuit,  with  the  following  preachers:  Jacob  Erb,  1825-26;  Gideon 
Smith,  1826-27;  Simon  Dresbach,  1827-30;  Gideon  Smith,  1830-31;  David 
Runx,  1832;  Jacob  Roop  and  John  Snyder,  1833;  Daniel  Funkhouser,  1834; 
John  Snyder,  1835;  Christian  Hershey,  1836;  John  Eckstein,  1837;  Daniel 
Funkhouser,  1837-39.  In  1840  Lebanon  Circuit  was  formed,  and  Jacob  Roop 
w^as  appointed  to  the  charge.  The  following  year  ( I  84  1 )  Christian  Peffley 
and  Philip  Frey  were  the  pastors.  In  1  842  Lebanon  w^as  made  a  station  and 
John  Light  was  the  pastor  from  1842-44;  Christian  S.  Kreider,  1844-47;  John 
Sand,  1848-50;  Henry  Schropp,  1850-53;  George  W.  Hoffman,  1853-56; 
David  Hoffman,  1856-59;  John  Stam  and  David  Strickler,  1859-60.  A.  Steig- 
erwalt  and  C.J.  Burket,  1860-62;  J.  B.  Daugherty,  1862-65;  Jacob  H.  Mark, 
1865-68;  H.  H.  Gelbach,  1868-71;  Jacob  Runk,  1871-73;  James  Shoop, 
1873-76;  E.  Light,  1876-78;  J.  P.  Smith,  1878-82;  U.  Gambler,  1882-85;  D. 
S.  Longenecker,  1885-89;  H.  S.  Gabel,  1889-94;  J.  H.  VonNeida,  1894-96;  J. 
P.  Smith,  1896-99;  J.  Runk  and  I.  E.  Runk,  1899-1900;  J.  Runk  and  R.  R. 
Butterwick,   1900-01  ;  I.  H.  Albright,  1901-03. 

TRINITY    CHURCH 

In  the  course  of  time  a  new^  demand  was  made  upon  the  United  Breth- 
ren Church  in  Lebanon,  and  that  was  a  matter  of  language.  Up  to  the  year 
1  860,  or  about  that  time,  the  services  in  Salem  Church,  and  in  all  our  churches 
throughout  the  county,  had  been  conducted  in  the  German  language  exclu- 
sively. But  now  our  young  people,  some  of  w^hom  had  already  gone  to  other 
churches,  began   to   demand    English    preaching.     In  order  to  meet  this  new 


UNITED    BRETHREN    CHURCH 


215 


demand  Rev.  Daniel  Eberly,  who  subsequently  served  Trinity  Church  as  pas- 
tor and  completed  the  handsome  spire  that  adorns  that  structure,  was  asked 
to  go  to  Lebanon  and  preach 
to  our  people  there  in  the 
English  language.  But  cir- 
cumstances prevented  the 
consummation  of  this  plan 
to  secure  the  services  of 
Dr.  Eberly.  A  little  later 
Rev.  D.  A.  Tawney  began 
to  preach  in  the  English 
language  to  our  people  in 
Lebanon,  as  did  Rev.  Da- 
vid Strickler  also.  But  in 
1 866  the  Annual  Confer- 
ence convened  in  Columbia 
and  appointed  Rev.  G.  W. 
M.  Rigor  to  co-operate  w^ith 
the  Salem  Church  in  the 
establishment  of  an  Eng- 
lish United  Brethren  Church 
in  Lebanon. 

So,  with  a  membership 
of  fifty-nine  from  old  Salem, 
including  J.  M.  Getde,  J.  B. 
Rauch,  Felix  H.  Light,  Abra- 
ham Sherkand  Daniel  Wea- 
ver, w^ho  were  the  first  board 
of  trustees,  the  lot  on  the 
northeast  corner  of  Ninth 
and  Willow  Streets  w^as 
purchased  for  $5,250  ;  and 
in  July,  1867,  the  cornerstone  of  Trinity  United  Brethren  Church  was  laid  by 
Rev.  W.  S.  H.  Keys.  In  the  spring  of  1868  the  lecture  and  class  rooms  of 
the  church  were  furnished,  and  formally  dedicated  by  Bishop  J.  J.  Gloss- 
brenner  ;  and  on  the  23d  day  of  May,  1869,  during  the  session  of  the  Gen- 
eral Conference,  which  met  in  Salem  Church,  Bishop  J.  Weaver  preached  the 
dedicatory  sermon  in  the  auditorium.  The  next  Sunday,  May  30,  1  869,  the 
balance  needed  to  pay  off  the  debt  ($8,000)  was  secured,  and  Trinity  Church 
w^as  solemnly  dedicated  to  the  Almighty  God.  The  handsome  steeple  was 
completed  under  the  able  management  of  Dr.  Eberly  in  1876. 

In  1  900  the  church  and  parsonage  were  remodeled,  pavement,  curb  and 
gutter  laid  at  an  expense  of  $5,500  ;  and  one  year  later  the  congregation  paid 
off  a  debt  of  $5,500  and  contributed  $3,000  for  the  purchase  and  placing  of  a 
pipe  organ.     The  value  of   the  church   and    parsonage    is    $40,000.     The  fol- 


VMomfcTWC^ 


Trinity  Church  and  Parsonage 


216 


LANDMARK    HISTORY    OF    THE 


lowing  pastors  served  the  congregation:  1866-70,  G.  W.  M.  Rigor;  1870-74, 
W.  S.  H.  Keys,  D.D.;  1874-76,  D.  Eberly,  D.D. ;  1876-78,  L.  Peters;  1878-81, 
J.  T.  Schaeffer;  1881-85,  M.  P.Doyle;  1  885-89,  J.  W.  Etter,  D.D.  ;  1890-94, 
C.  J.  Kephart,  D.D. ;  1894-95,  Z.  A.  Weidler  and  R.  Rock,  D.D. ;  1895-96,  G. 
W.  M.  Rigor  and  R.  Rock,  D.D. ;  1896-1906,  C.  I.  B.  Brane;   1906.S.  E.  Rupp. 


LEBANON    VALLEY    COLLEGE 

In  1 866  the  East  Pennsylvania  Conference,  v/hose  territory  included 
Lebanon   County,  together  w^ith    other   co-operating   conferences,  established 

Lebanon  Valley  Col- 
lege at  Annville.  At 
that  time  the  Church 
bought  the  Annville 
Academy,  which  was 
founded  as  a  private 
school  in  1834.  It  was 
turned  over  to  the 
United  Brethren  in 
Christ,  and  from  that 
day  to  this  has  been 
successfully  operated 
as  a  Christian  college. 
The  first  faculty  con- 
sisted of  Thomas  R. 
Vickroy,  Ph.D.,  John 
Krumbein,  E.  Benja- 
min Bierman,  A.M., 
Ph.D.,  Miss  Eliza  L. 
Walker  and  Miss  Liz- 
zie M.  Rigler. 
The  following  men  have  served  as  presidents  of  the  College:  Thomas  R. 
Vickroy,  1866-71  ;  Lucian  Hummond  (deceased),  1871-76;  David  D.  DeLong, 
1876-87;  Edmund  S.  Lorenz,  1887-89;  Cyrus  J.  Kephart,  1889-90;  E.  Benja- 
min Bierman,  1890-97;  Hervin  U.  Roop,  1897-1907;  A.  P.  Funkhouser,  D.D., 
1907-8;  Lawrence  Kiester,  D.D.,   1908  to  the  present. 

When  Dr.  Bierman  accepted  the  presidency  of  Lebanon  Valley  College 
it  was  in  the  midst  of  a  financial  crisis,  the  fog  of  which  shut  out  the  sunlight 
of  hope  from  many  loving  hearts.  When  he  was  elected  president  of  the 
College  the  writer  was  appointed  to  notify  him  of  the  fact  and  request  him  to 
accept  the  responsibility.  1  found  him  at  the  seashore  enjoying  relief  from  a 
remunerative  occupation. 

After  much  deliberation  and  prayer  he  reluctantly  consented  to  take 
charge  of  the  school ;  and  for  a  period   of   seven   years  he  bore  on  his  brave 


Annville  Academy 


UNITED    BRETHREN     CHURCH 


217 


heart  burdens  enough  to  bury  a  giant.  In  my  judgment,  he  saved  its  Hfe  and 
placed  it  in  the  Hne  of  promotion  to  its  present  proud  position  of  growing 
usefulness. 

Dr.  H.  U.  Roop,  who  w^as  the  first  alumnus  of  the  College  to  occupy  the 
president's  chair,  entered  his  kingdom  of  care  and  responsibility  w^hen  a  new^ 
demand  w^as  upon  the  College — better  facilities,  more  room  and  a  larger 
student  interest.     To  these  requirements  he  made  adequate  response. 

Dr.  Law^rence  Kiester  has  been  at  the  head  of  the  College  for  several 
years,  and  has  achieved  great  success  in  his  blessed  work,  especially  in  lifting 
the  school  out  of  debt. 

There  is  an  interesting  scrap  of  history  in  the  fact  that  Annville  Academy, 
instead  of  becoming  the  nucleus  of  an  educational  plant  under  the  auspices 
of  the  United  Brethren  in  Christ,  came  w^ithin  an  inch  of  developing  into  the 
institution  of  learning  that  was  subsequently  founded  at  Allentown,  and  called 
Muhlenburg  College,  and  w^hich  is  now^  successfully  operated  by  the  Evangel- 
ical Lutheran  Church,  whose  ministers  and  members,  associated  with  those  of 
the  Reformed  Church,  pioneered  the  cause  of  Christian  education  in  Leba- 
non County.  The  matter  of  locating  a  Lutheran  college  at  Annville  was 
talked  of  in  a  private  w^ay,  some  of  the  main  men  in  the  academy  being 
members  of  that  church. 


REV.    JOHN     LIGHT 


Another  interesting  landmark  in  the  line  of  church  history  is  the  old 
home  of  Rev.  John  Light,  eldest  son  of  Rev.  Felix  Light,  which  still  stands  in 
a  good  state  of  preservation  a  little 
north  of  Cumberland  Street,  just 
below  Second.  It  was  built  many 
years  ago,  probably  about  1825, 
and  w^as  an  unusually  fine  dwelling 
for  that  day.  It  is  substantially  built 
of  brick,  about  30  x  60  feet,  and 
tw^o  stories  high.  The  ow^ner  of 
this  manse  was  a  man  of  wonderful 
resources  in  argument,  and  alw^ays 
preached  with  great  power  and 
acceptance  to  those  who  heard 
him.  Moreover,  he  was  the  pastor 
of  Salem  United  Brethren  Church 
for  two  years,  from  1842  to  1844. 
At  that  time  our  Salem  congregation  still  worshiped  in  Light's  Meeting  House, 
on  Seventh  Street  and  the  Pinegrove  road,  but  it  was  the  last  year  of  their 
sojourn  in  that  historic  chapel.  The  next  year,  under  the  leadership  of  Rev. 
Christian   Smith    Kreider,  the    large    stone    church  was    built  on  the  corner  of 


Rev.  John  Light's  Home 


218  LANDMARK     HISTORY 

Ninth  and  Church  Streets,  where  Salem  congregation  still  worships,  but  in  a 
larger,  finer  temple. 

Rev.  John  Light's  home  w^as  the  scene  of  many  interesting  events,  domes- 
tic, social,  religious  and  professional.  Besides  rearing  a  family  of  lovely  chil- 
dren, three  of  whom  became  deservedly  distinguished  in  the  ministry  of  the 
United  Brethren  Church,  namely,  Rudolph,  Ezekial  and  Job,  this  man  of  God 
was  busy  with  those  things  which  gave  him  wide  and  important  public  rela- 
tions in  the  county.  These,  of  course,  were  chiefly  of  a  religious  character 
and  in  the  line  of  his  profession. 

In  this  old  home,  then  new  and  almost  extravagant  in  its  style  and  fur- 
nishings, Mr.  John  Weiss,  to  w^hose  home  and  family  I  have  elsewhere  re- 
ferred, w^as  married  to  Miss  Mattie  Strickler,  sister  of  Rev.  David  Strickler,  a 
prominent  minister  in  the  United  Brethren  Church,  and  at  one  time  editor  of 
the  Froelicher  Botschafter,  the  German  organ  of  the  denomination.  Here,  too, 
Mr.  John  P.  Grumbine  was  married  to  Miss  Maria  Light,  daughter  of  John 
Light,  tanner,  whose  worth  and  influence  I  have  already  mentioned.  Finally, 
within  these  consecrated  walls  Mr.  Light  breathed  his  last.  The  many  neigh- 
bors and  friends  who  called  to  see  him  in  his  last  illness,  especially  the  last 
days  of  his  life  on  earth,  w^ere  astonished  at  the  degree  of  composure  and 
spiritual  delight  and  happiness  w^hich  characterized  his  last  hours.  He  bade 
them  good-bye  in  the  bright  light  of  an  approaching  inheritance  that  is  incor- 
ruptible, undefiled,  and  that  fadeth  not  away.  He  spoke  as  one  going  to  a 
country  in  which  he  expected  to  find  all  his  departed  friends,  and  to  which 
all  his  living  associates  would  at  last  gather.  "Mark  the  perfect  man  and  be- 
hold the  upright ;   for  the  end  of  that  man  is  peace. ' 


PINEGROVE    CHURCH 

The  United  Brethren  Church  at  Pinegrove  was  organized  in  1847  by 
Rev.  J.  A.  Sand,  and  these  w^ere  the  original  members :  Mr.  and  Mrs  Paul 
Barr,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jacob  Barr,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  Huber,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Henry 
Spancake,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Henry  Schropp,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jacob  Bucher,  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Lewis  Hackman,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Peter  Gambel,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  William  Lutz 
and  Frederick  Sporman. 

Of  course,  the  United  Brethren  preached  in  Pinegrove  long  before  the 
class  was  organized  and  the  church  built.  Indeed,  for  fifty  years  previously 
Felix  Light  and  other  pioneer  ministers  had  visited  the  place  regularly  and 
preached  the  Gospel;  but  in  1847  a  class  was  organized  and  a  frame  church 
35  X  42  feet  was  erected  on  a  lot  donated  by  William  Eckert  at  a  cost  of 
$2,000.  Henry  Spancake,  Frederick  Sporman  and  Paul  and  Jacob  Barr  w^ere 
the  building  committee. 

In  1  899,  during  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  Clinton  S.  Miller,  the  congregation 
purchased  a  lot  on  Pottsville  Street,  60  x  256  feet,  and  built  a  parsonage  and 
church  thereon  for  $7,500.     Three  years  later  the   new  church  was  destroyed 


UNITED     BRETHREN     CHURCH 


219 


by  a  storm.  In  1893  the  church  was  rebuilt  under  the  pastoral  supervision  of 
Rev.  P.  L.  Hains,  and  in  1901  Rev.  A.  C.  Graul  paid  off  the  debt  and  burned 
the  mortgage. 

BELLEGROVE    CHURCH 


The  Bellegrove  Church  was  erected  in  1854  by  Joseph  and  Henry  Frank 
and  Benjamin  Alleman.  Previous  to  that  time  the  Bellegrove  congregation 
w^orshiped  in  a  small  brick 
structure  a  mile  north  of 
Bellegrove. 

It  was  built  as  a  United 
Brethren  Church, with  union 
privileges,  in  1837.  It  is  a 
one-story  structure,  and  is 
called  "The  Union  Church."  P, 
Although  our  people  built 
the  church  and  w^ere  gene- 
rous enough  to  allow^  other 
denominations  to  use  it,  by 
some  unknown  means  it 
was  secretly  deeded  to  the 
Methodists,  w^hich  led  to  a 
bitter  feud  between  tvs^o  brothers  by  the  name  of  Runkle,  one  of  whom  be- 
longed to  that  church,  while  the  other  was  a  United  Brethren.  This  feud  was 
not  only  bitter,  but  led  to  a  life-long  animosity  between  the  two  families,  both 
of  w^hich  w^ere  otherw^ise  consistent  Christians  and  about  equally  influential. 
The  traditional  stories  concerning  their  personal  animosities,  including  the 
manner  in  which  they  vented  their  spleen  upon  each  other,  was  anything  but 
complimentary  to   religion. 


Union  Church 


In  the  course  of  a  few  years, 
owing  to  the  fact  that  their 
services  w^ere  conducted 
exclusively  in  the  English 
language,  the  Methodist 
Church  was  finally  left  with- 
out any  members  in  that 
community.  For  some  years 
the  class  at  Union  Chapel 
continued  to  worship  in 
that  church,  but  finally 
erected  a  new^  one  for  them- 
selves at  Bellegrove,  w^here 
the  congregation  is  getting 
along  nicely.     The  old   church  still  stands  and   is  sometimes  used  for  divine 


Kauffman  s  Church 


220  LANDMARK     HISTORYOFTHE 

services ;  while  those  who  bitterly  contended  for  property  rights  in  Union 
Chapel  have  laid  aside  their  strife  forever,  either  through  the  grace  of  for- 
giveness or  else  from  sheer  necessity. 

Kauffman's  Church  was  built  in  1856;  but  the  congregation  previously 
worshiped  in  a  Mennonite  meeting  house  near  by.  Mt.  Nebo  is  a  union 
church  in  w^hich  a  class  of  United  Brethren  w^orship.  Lickdale  Church  w^as 
built  in  1901,  during  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  F.  J.  Butterwick.  The  congregation 
previously  worshiped  in  a  union  church  two  miles  east  of  the  present  church. 
The  trustees  are  E.  E.  Arnold,  J.  G.  Bohn  and  H.  W.  Darcas. 

Green  Point  Church  was  erected  in  1873,  during  the  pastorate  of  Rev. 
Schropp.  The  first  trustees  w^ere  David  Rupp,  Solomon  Mease  and  Imman- 
uel  Fake. 


MEMORIAL    CHURCH 

Memorial  United  Brethren  Church,  Fall  Alley  and  Lehman  Street,  Leba- 
non, had  its  beginning  in  the  fall  of  1885,  when  Rev.  H.  A.  Buffington  was 
appointed  to  establish  a  mission  in  that  city.  In  January,  1  886,  a  room  was 
rented  on  the  corner  of  Forge  and  Twelfth  Streets,  where  services  were  held 
for  a  period  of  six  months,  when  the  meetings  were  transferred  to  Twelfth 
and  Brandywine  Streets,  where  a  tent  w^as  erected  for  public  services.  The 
following  fall  Rev.  W.  H.  Uhler  took  charge  of  the  mission  and  built  a  small 
frame  chapel.  In  1  889  Rev.  A.  Gaul  became  the  pastor  and  reorganized  the 
church,  and  changed  the  location  to  the  present  site,  on  which  a  brick  chapel 
was  erected  in  1890  by  the  following  trustees:  John  Weaver,  John  Steckbeck, 
D.  W.  Zeller,  David  Ranch  and  A.  P.  Hollinger.  In  1892,  when  West  Leba- 
non congregation  was  attached  to  the  charge.  Revs.  S.  Etter  and  D.  S.  Longe- 
necker  were  the  pastors;  1894-97,  Rev.  J.  R.  Blecker ;  1897-03,  D.  S.  Longe- 
necker. 

The  churches  in  West  Lebanon  and  Pleasant  Hill  have  been  built  since, 
and  are  enjoying  a  good  degree  of  prosperity. 


FREDERICKSBURG    CHURCH 

Although  United  Brethren  ministers  preached  in  Fredericksburg  as  far 
back  as  1 800,  the  first  class  was  not  organized  until  1 830,  which  was  just 
three  years  before  Rev.  Jacob  Erb  organized  the  class  at  Sherk's  Meeting 
House,  which  is  said  to  have  been  the  first  class  organized  east  of  the  Susque- 
hanna. Indeed,  from  all  1  can  gather  concerning  the  matter,  Fredericksburg 
has  the  oldest  organized  class  on  this  side  of  the  river,  unless  it  be  Salem, 
Lebanon,  which  /  believe  organized  not  later  than  1820.  At  any  rate,  Freder- 
icksburg and  vicinity  was  one  of  the  first  appointments  of  our  pioneer  preach- 
ers, and  has  furnished  many  noble  and  distinguished  United  Brethren,  in- 
cluding Casper  Sherk,  Rudolph  Sherk,  John  Light,  the  Grohs,  and  others.  Mr. 


UNITED     BRETHREN     CHURCH 


221 


Simon  Desh  was  converted  at  a  meeting  held  at  the  home  of  John  Light,  tan- 
ner, near  Fredericksburg,  in  1  840.  That  was  a  w^onderful  meeting,  and  scores 
were  converted  who  afterward  became  pillars  in  the  church.  Rudolph  Sherk 
asked  permission  for  United  Brethren  to  preach  in  the  Mennonite  Church, 
but  it  was  not  granted  ;  then  he  fixed  up  a  log  house  on  his  land  for  public 
worship,  took  out  the  partitions  and  made  such  changes  as  seemed  suitable, 
and  thus  opened  his  own  home  to  our  ministers.  Services  were  also  held  in 
Grove's  Mill,  south  of  town.  In  1876,  under  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  John 
Binkley,  with  Rev.  George  Lentz,  John  Weller,  Joshua  Light,  John  Long  and 
Samuel  Rickert  as  trustees,  the  present  church  was  erected  in  Fredericksburg 
at  a  cost  of  $3,000.  Previous  to  that  time  our  people  worshiped  in  private 
houses  and  with  the  Evangelical  Association. 


ast&sai;^ 


JONESTOWN     CHURCH 

For  more  than  a  hundred  years  the  people  of  Jonestown  have  enjoyed 
the  ministry  of  United  Brethren  preach- 
ers, from  Felix  Light  down  to  the  pres- 
ent pastor.  For  more  than  fifty  years, 
however,  we  had  no  church  there,  but 
worshiped  in  a  small  union  house  with 
several  denominations.  In  1857,  under 
the  pastoral  care  of  Rev.  Daniel  Kauff- 
man,  a  brick  structure  was  erected  on  a 
back  street  at  a  cost  of  $2,500.  The 
deed  was  made  on  the  30th  day  of  March, 
1857,  by  John  Brunner  and  Margaret, 
his  wife,  to  David  Wendling,  Samuel 
Sherck,  Jr.,  and  Michael  Heim,  for  $125. 
The  cornerstone  for  the  new^  church  w^as 
laid  in  this  historic  center  October  23, 
19  10,  by  the  pastor.  Rev.  R.  E.  Morgan. 
Other  ministers  present  were  Dr.  Lowery, 
O.  T.  Ehrhart,  H.  E.  Miller  and  D.  D. 
Buddinger,  besides  a   large   concurse  of 

people.        Thus  the   good    seed    was   sown  Jonestown  Church 

here  at  an  early  date,  and  has  born  fruit  an  hundred  fold. 


PALMYRA    CHURCH 


The  history  of  United  Brethrenism  in  the  vicinity  of  Palmyra  runs  back 
almost  a  century  ;  but  in  the  tow^n  of  Palmyra  it  is  of  more  recent  origin.  In 
1843  Rev.  Simon  Noll  preached  in  a  house  near  the  toll-gate;   and  in  1860  a 


222  LANDMARKHISTORYOFTHE 

class  was  organized.  In  1  864  Rev.  J.  Shoop  preached  in  a  tinsmith  shop  in 
Palmyra;  and  in  1870  Mrs.  Amanda  Phillips  and  Mrs.  Eliza  Strickler,  and  a 
few  others,  urged  the  necessity  of  building  a  church  in  Palmyra,  which  was 
finally  accomplished  in  1900  under  the  efficient  management  of  Rev.  J.  R. 
Blecker,  and  cost  $18,000. 

For  a  period  of  sixty  years  the  United  Brethren  have  held  divine  services 
in  the  vicinity  of  Avon,  usually  at  the  home  of  Joseph  Light,  who  was  a  local 
preacher;  but  the  church  was  not  organized  in  that  place  until  1872,  when 
the  following  were  enrolled  as  charter  members  of  Zion  United  Brethren 
Church  at  Avon:  Joseph  Light,  James  Benson,  John  H.  Benson,  Peter  Swope, 
Peter  Rauch,  Philip  Schaeffer,  and  Jacob  Loser.  Rev.  Samuel  Mohn  was  the 
first  pastor  of  this  new  charge,  whose  charter  members  previously  belonged 
to  Salem,  Lebanon.  In  that  year  (1872)  a  frame  church  was  erected  where 
the  present  house  now  stands.  That  church  served  the  purposes  of  the 
society  for  about  a  quarter  of  a  century,  when  the  modern  house  now  occu- 
pied by  the  congregation  was  built  at  a  cost  of  about  five  thousand. 


REV.    JOSEPH     F.     LIGHT 

Rev.  Joseph  F.  Light,  third  son  of  Rev.  Felix  Light,  was  closely  and 
actively  identified  with  his  father  and  two  older  brothers  in  the  work  of  the 
ministry  in  the  early  history  of  the  Church,  and  was  a 
man  of  fine  mind  and  spiritual  personality,  and  was 
magnetic  and  persuasive  as  a  preacher.  While  he  ad- 
dressed himself  in  public  appeal  to  the  intelligence  of 
his  audience,  his  real  aim  was  the  heart,  which  he  reached 
by  the  tender  touch  of  divine  pity  and  warmth  of  feel- 
ing. In  all  of  the  ins  and  outs  of  life  Mr.  Light  was 
faithful  and  affectionate,  placing  personal  honor  and 
public  weal  far  above  the  fog  of  an  unholy  fellowship, 
and  thus  won    for    himself    and    his    posterity  and    the  „      ,       ,  r-  ,    ,. 

_  Rev.  Joseph  F.  Light 

Church    the    highest    esteem.     He    died    in    1870.     His 

children   now  living   are   Mr.  Asaph   S.   Light,  Mrs.   Esther  Meiley  and  Mrs. 

Dorcas  Marquart. 

FELIX    H.     LIGHT 

One  of  the  most  deservedly  distinguished  members  in  the  laity  of  the 
Church  in  recent  years  was  Felix  H.  Light,  who  was  the  son  of  Rev.  Casper 
Light,  and  a  grandson  of  Rev.  Felix  Light,  both  of  whom  were  ministers  of 
great  usefulness  in  the  early  history  of  the  Church,  especially  in  Lebanon 
County.  He  died  on  Thursday  evening,  December  26,  1901,  in  the  seventy- 
sixth  year  of  his  age.  Like  his  distinguished  grandfather,  he  was  the  em- 
bodiment  of   physical    strength    and    comeliness,  and  enjoyed  almost  perfect 


UNITED    BRETHREN    CHURCH 


223 


health  to  within  a  year  or  so  of  his  death,  when  he  began  to  decHne.  In  early 
life  he  became  a  Christian  and  joined  Salem  United  Brethren  Church,  with 
w^hose  interests  he  was  actively  associated 
the  balance  of  his  life,  but  extended  his 
religious  sympathy  and  co-operation  far 
beyond  the  activities  of  that  local  society, 
and  was  officially  associated  with  the  es- 
tablishment of  the  Church  in  other  places. 
He  was  one  of  the  first  trustees  of  Trinity 
Church  in  Lebanon,  and  contributed  largely 
to  its  work  and  w^elfare,  in  money  and  in 
character.  His  interest  in  religion  and  the 
progress  of  Christianity  increased  all  through 
his  life.  "The  path  of  the  just  is  as  the 
shining  light,  that  shineth  more  and  more 
unto  the  perfect  day."  Moreover,  there  was 
sunshine  in  his  soul  from  day  to  day,  no 
matter  what  the  outward  conditions  of  life 
w^ere.  In  heart  and  life  he  w^as  pure  and 
good ;  in  the  social  circle  he  w^as  an  inspiration  ;  in  the  sanctuary  he  w^as 
reverent  and  devout;  in  business  he  w^as  honest  and  fairly  successful;  and  in 
the  home  he  w^as  the  main  source  of  joy  to  wife  and  children.  The  death  of 
his  wife  was  a  great  sorrow  to  him ;  but  he  found  unlimited  delight  in  the 
fellowship  of  his  children,  of  which  he  had  fifteen.  He  lived  and  died  in  the 
hope  of  a  blessed  immortality,  realizing  that  the  Lord  was  his  shepherd. 


Felix  H.  Light 


JOHN     B.     RAUCH 


John  B.  Rauch 


One  of  the  founders  of  Trinity  United 
Brethren  Church  was  Mr.  John  B.  Rauch, 
who  died  in  1895.  Mr.  Rauch  was  a  man 
of  strong  character,  consistent  habits  and 
most  honorable  in  all  his  relations  in  life. 
Early  in  life  he  became  a  Christian,  and 
straightway  joined  Salem  United  Brethren 
Church,  in  which  he  w^as  an  active,  enter- 
prising member  until  1867,  w^hen  he,  w^ith 
fifty-eight  others,  became  a  charter  member 
of  Trinity  Church,  with  w^hich  he  remained 
actively  identified  until  he  died.  No  man's 
life  and  labor  can  be  more  divinely  cher- 
ished or  more  heartily  appreciated  than 
those  of  John  B.  Rauch  are  by  Trinity 
Church,  to  whose  establishment  and  prog- 
ress he  contributed  most  generously. 


224 


LANDMARK     HISTORY    OF    THE 


EAST  PENNSYLVANIA  CONFERENCE,  1867 


The  above  picture  is  historic,  including  pioneer  ministers  of 
distinction :  Bishop  Otterbein,  Jacob  Roop,  Jacob  Erb,  J.  A. 
Sand,  G.  A.  Mark,  Sr.,  and  Joseph  F.  Light. 


UNITED     BRETHREN     CHURCH 


225 


Gideon  Light 


Mr.  Gideon  Light,  an  excellent  cut  of  whom  accompanies  this  sketch, 
was  not  a  pioneer  United  Brethren,  but  fig- 
ured influentially  in  the  affairs  of  the  Church 
more  recently,  especially  in  the  city  and  vicin- 
ity of  Lebanon,  w^here  he  was  born  in  1831, 
and  died  April  18,  1902,  in  the  seventy-second 
year  of  his  age.  He  w^as  born  in  the  old 
dwelling  erected  by  his  father,  Mr.  Jacob 
Light,  on  the  north  side  of  Maple  Street,  just 
west  of  Ninth,  in  1823.  The  house  is  still 
standing  in  a  good  state  of  preservation,  and 
is  the  only  house  on  that  side  of  the  block 
that  stands  flush  with  the  street.  It  was  built 
by  Mr.  Jacob  Light  while  he  lived  in  the  old 
log  house  standing  in  the  centre  of  the  com- 
mon just  south  of  Maple  Street,  between  Ninth 
and  Tenth.  This  old  house,  situated  in  a 
clump  of  large  and  small  fruit  trees,  by  which 
it  is  almost  completely  concealed,  is  an  inter- 
esting landmark  in  the  local  history  of  the 
place,  a  quaint  relic  of  ye  olden  times.  It  is 
a  one-story  log  structure,  about  50x25  feet, 
and  has  tw^o  dormer  w^indow^s  on  each  side.  It  is  w^eather-boarded  outside 
and  plastered  within,  and  is  most  curiously  constructed.  The  house  contains 
four  rooms  and  a  hallway  below,  the  latter  about  twelve  feet  wide  and  run- 
ning the  entire  w^idth  of  the  house,  w^ith  a  very  large  "fire-place"  on  the  w^est 

side,  in  the  centre.  The  parti- 
tion dividing  the  w^est  half  into 
two  apartments  is  carved  and 
paneled,  and  contains  drawers 
and  w^ardrobes,  all  strangely 
strong  and  curiously  painted.  As 
to  the  garret,  that  is  divided  into 
several  apartments,  the  kind  lady 
of  the  house  told  me.  The  tim- 
bers are  rough-hewn  and  plenty 
thick  enough  for  safety.  The 
house  was  built  not  later  than 
1  775,  and  stands  on  what  was 
then  the  northern  border  of  the 
Light  farm,  which  extended  as 
far  south  as  Church  Street.  This  quaint  old  house  w^as  not  only  a  social  cen- 
tre in  the  years  agone,  but  w^as  used  for  sanctuary  purposes  by  the  United 
Brethren,  it  being  one  of  their  many  preaching  places  in  the  city  and  vicinity 
of  Lebanon.     This  old  house,  now^  dingy  and   dilapidated,  but  then  new^  and 


JacuL  Lighi's  Home,  1775 


226  LANDMARK    HISTORY    OF    THE 

well  kept,  was  once  the  scene  of  many  happy  occasions  of  a  social  and  reli- 
gious nature;  for  it  was  the  main  trysting  place  of  our  people  in  the  early 
history  of  the  Church.  To  the  home  of  Jacob  Light  came  old  and  young, 
either  for  social  fellowship  or  for  religious  worship.  With  the  fragrance  of 
the  many  flowers  that  bloomed  in  the  yard,  the  home-life  of  the  Lights  sent 
out  the  odor  of  old-time  hospitality,  as  wide  and  sweet  as  it  w^as  generous 
and  sincere.     O,  for  more  heart  and  less  form  in  the  social  affairs  of  life! 

But,  to  go  back  to  Mr.  Gideon  Light,  1  may  say  that  he  was  one  of  the 
most  prominent  and  useful  members  of  the  Church  in  Lebanon  County.  He 
was  a  life-long  member  of  Salem  Church,  in  which  he  was  a  leading  officer 
for  many  years,  hie  was  identified  with  all  the  aggressive  movements  of  his 
church  and  congregation  in  recent  years,  and  sustained  with  a  liberal  hand 
all  of  their  material  improvements.  But  most  of  all,  Mr.  Light  was  interested 
in  the  spiritual  welfare  of  the  church  and  community,  his  long  life  being  an 
unbroken  expression  of  love  to  God  and  humanity.  He  was  a  quiet  man, 
retiring  in  disposition,  good  to  the  poor,  honest  and  pure  in  his  private  and 
public  relations,  and  held  in  high  esteem  by  all  who  knew  him.  In  politics 
he  was  a  Democrat,  and  as  such  was  elected  county  treasurer  in  1873,  and 
performed  the  duties  of  that  office  with  credit  to  himself  and  satisfaction  to 
the  people.  Indeed,  in  every  relation  in  life  he  was  a  model  man ;  and  his 
home,  like  that  of  Lydia,  was  thrown  open  with  a  wide  welcome  to  God's 
ministering  servants,  whether  preachers  or  laymen.  As  a  Christian,  as  a 
church  member,  as  a  neighbor,  as  a  husband,  as  a  father,  as  a  brother,  as  a 
friend  and  as  a  fellow  worker  in  spiritual  and  material  affairs,  he  was  true 
and  faithful.  Moreover,  his  large  and  interesting  family  are  all  members  of 
the  church. 

A  stroll  with  Mr.  John  Yingst  over  Abraham  Draksel's  farm,  now  divided 
and  otherwise  greatly  changed,  aw^akened  many  tender  and  grateful  thoughts 
concerning  the  "Silenced  Preacher,"  w^hose  lovely  life  spoke  more  loudly  for 
Christ  than  his  eloquent  tongue,  by  which  the  good  seed  of  the  kingdom  was 
widely  scattered  through  the  western  part  of  the  State.  The  house  in  which 
he  lived  has  been  completely  razed,  and  the  site  is  occupied  by  a  little  frame 
tool-house,  or  something  of  that  kind.  Under  the  little  frame  structure  there 
is  the  same  spring  over  which  the  dwelling  stood,  while  back  of  it  are  marks 
of  cellar  and  foundation.  The  long,  tw^o-story  log  house,  in  which  Rev.  Drak- 
sel  lived,  once  stood  here.  It  had  a  very  wide  hallway  running  crossw^ise, 
with  several  rooms  on  each  side,  including  parlor  and  living  room,  and  sev- 
eral good  rooms  upstairs.  The  garret  w^as  long  and  dark,  and  was  some- 
times used  for  the  purpose  of  smoking  meat. 

About  two  hundred  yards  from  the  site  of  the  old  home,  and  most  thickly 
occupied  by  a  clump  of  slender  trees,  including  a  thicker  underbrush,  is  the 
Draksel  graveyard.  I  do  not  know  that  any  of  Rev.  Draksel's  immediate 
family  are   buried   here,  but   a   number   of   his   kindred   are.     The  graves  are 


UNITED     BRETHREN     CHURCH 


227 


marked  by  native  stones  and  bear  no  inscription  so  far  as  I  could  see  through 
the  thicket,  and  without  an  axe  and  a  scythe  it  would  be  impossible  to  exam- 
ine more  closely.      But  some  one  knows  who  sleeps  there,  and  He'll  find  them. 

The  SchaefFerstown  Church  was  an  outgrowth  of  the  Weiss  appointment, 
and  included  in  its  membership,  besides  the  Weiss  family,  such  men  as  Geo. 
Brockey,  Benjamin  Brubaker,  Michael  Dissinger,  Frederick  Kline,  Jonas  Krum- 
bine,  Cyrus  Beamesderfer,  Joseph  Horst,  Samuel  Wingert,  Leonard  Hartman 
and  Samuel  Dissinger. 

Schaefferstown  was  visited  by  Rev.  Christian  Newcomer  more  than  a 
century  ago,  and  also  by  his  associates  in  the  Gospel,  who  occasionally 
preached  there  in  private  houses.  About  1 840  the  church  w^as  organized 
there,  and  soon  after  a  house  of  worship  w^as  erected. 


Some  Maryland  Marks 


CHAPTER    II 


FREDERICK    COUNTY 

CAPTAIN     LAWRENCE     EBERHART 


HE  subject  of  this  sketch  embodies  a  picturesque  personal- 
ity, and  exemphfies  a  variety  of  taste  and  talent  that  you 
rarely  find  in  a  single  in- 
dividual. He  was  born  in 
Middletown,  Frederick 
County,  Maryland,  May  6, 

I  755,  and  died  in  or  near  the  place  of  his 

birth   August   6,   1840,   in    the    eighty-sixth 

year   of   his    age.     On   the  first  of  August, 

1  776,  he  enlisted  in  Captain  Goode's  "Fly- 
ing   Camp"    company    for    service    in    the 

Revolutionary   War,    in    v^hich    he    served 

faithfully  till   it   closed    at   Yorktown.     He 

w^as  only  twenty-tw^o  years  of  age  when  he 

enlisted,  and  was  a  tall,  finely  formed  man 

of    great    physical    strength  and  pluck,  and 

finally  rose  to  the   rank   of   sergeant.     His 

regiment  was  assigned   a  place   in  General 

Beall's  brigade,  and  served  with  the  other 

Maryland  troops  at  White  Plains  and  Fort 

Washington. 

After  the  expiration  of  his  first  term  of 

service.  Sergeant  Eberhart  re-enlisted  at  Frederick  in  Colonel  Washington's 

regiment  of  cavalry ;  and  at  the  battle  of  Cowpens,  where  he  and  seventeen 

other   men    were    selected    by    Colonel    Washington    to    reconnoiter  Colonel 

Tarleton's  position,  he  was  wounded  and  taken  prisoner,  his  horse  being  shot 

under  him. 

Immediately  after   his   capture   by  the   enemy,  the  following  conversation 

took  place  between  Sergeant  Eberhart  and  Colonel  Tarleton  :   "Do  you  think 


Captain  Lawrence  Eberhart 


UNITED    BRETHREN    CHURCH 


229 


Mr.  Washington  and  Mr.  Morgan  will  fight  me  today?"  asked  Colonel  Tarle- 
ton.  "Yes,"  said  Eberhart,  "if  they  can  keep  together  two  hundred  men." 
"Then,"  said  the  Colonel,  "it  will  be  another  Gates  defeat."  "I  hope  through 
God  that  it  will  be  another  Tarleton  defeat,"  replied  Sergeant  Eberhart.  The 
British  commander,  thinking  that  Eberhart  did  not  know  who  he  was  talking 
to,  said,  "I  am  Colonel  Tarleton,  sir."  "And  /  am  Sergeant  Eberhart,"  replied 
the  plucky  patriot.  Colonel  Tarleton  was  evidently  pleased  with  the  ser- 
geant's frankness  and  courage,  and  immediately  had  his  several  severe  w^ounds 
dressed  by  British  surgeons. 

In  the  battle  which  ensued  the  enemy,  finding  that  they  could  not  keep 
their  prisoner,  "shot  him  in  the  head  over  one  of  his  eyes,"  but  the  wound 
was  not 
serious  and 
a  moment 
later  the 
man  who 
shot  him 
was  killed, 
and  his 
horse  giv- 
en over  to 
Eberhart. 
A  little  la- 
ter Colonel 
Washing- 
tonwasres- 
cued  from 
capture  or 
death  by 
Se  r  g  eant 
Eberhart, 
who  struck 

the  arm  of  a  British  officer  who  was  in  the  act  of  striking  him.  At  the  same 
moment  a  British  officer  in  front  (believed  to  have  been  Colonel  Tarleton 
himself)  made  a  thrust  which  Washington  parried,  whereupon  the  officer  fired 
his  pistol  and  wounded  Eberhart  in  the  knee.  On  returning  from  the  pursuit, 
Washington  embraced  Eberhart  and  sent  him  to  the  rear,  where  his  wounds 
were  dressed. 

For  a  long  time  Eberhart  was  disabled  for  active  service,  but  was  present 
at  the  surrender  at  Yorktown,  where  he  became  acquainted  with  Lafayette. 
In  I  782  he  was  honorably  discharged,  and  returned  to  Middletown  Valley, 
in  Frederick  County,  Maryland,  where  he  settled  on  a  farm  about  one  mile 
southeast  of  Middletown,  now  occupied  by  a  Mr.  De  Grange. 

In  1  799  Colonel  Washington  visited  Sergeant  Eberhart,  and  when  they 
met  they  "kissed  each  other  and  wept  for  joy." 


Rev,  Eberhart's  Home 


230  LANDMARK     HISTORYOFTHE 

On  December  12,  1  799,  just  one  hundred  years  ago  to  the  very  day, 
Christian  Newcomer  preached  at  Lawrence  Eberhart's,  near  Middletown, 
Maryland,  from  the  first  and  second  verses  of  the  sixty-first  chapter  of  Isaiah, 
as  follow^s  :  "The  spirit  of  the  Lord  God  is  upon  me :  because  the  Lord  has 
anointed  me  to  preach  good  tidings  unto  the  meek ;  he  hath  sent  me  to  bind 
up  the  broken-hearted,  to  proclaim  liberty  to  the  captives,  and  the  opening  of 
the  prison  to  them  that  are  bound ;  to  proclaim  the  acceptable  year  of  the 
Lord,  and  the  day  of  vengeance  of  our  God,  to  comfort  all  that  mourn."  This 
is  the  first  mention  of  Eberhart's  name  in  Newcomer's  Journal,  so  far  as  I 
know,  and  on  February  11,  1816,  sixteen  years  later,  Bishop  Newcomer 
preached  in  Middletown  and  went  home  with  Eberhart.  That  is  the  last 
time  his  name  is  mentioned  in  the  journal. 

On  a  marble  monument,  about  twelve  feet  high,  erected  by  his  relatives 
in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  graveyard  in  Middletown,  Maryland,  is  this  in- 
scription :  "Lawrence  Eberhart,  ordained  a  minister  of  the  Gospel  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  by  Bishop  Asbury,  A.  D.  1 808."  On  the  right 
side  of  the  monument  is  the  following :  "Sergeant  Lawrence  Eberhart,  a  vete- 
ran of  the  Revolution,  the  rescuer  of  Colonel  Washington  at  the  battle  of 
Cowpens;  he  assisted  at  the  most  remarkable  battles  during  the  war,  and  in 
the  battle  of  Brandywine,  when  Lafayette  vv^as  wounded,  he  and  Sergeant 
Wallace  rescued  him  from  his  perilous  situation,  and  carried  him  about  two 
miles  to  the  house  of  a  friend.  He  served  from  the  beginning  to  the  close  of 
the  Revolution.  He  was  generous  and  just  in  all  the  relations  of  life."  On 
the  front  of  the  shaft  is  carved  a  shield  bearing  the  stars  and  stripes,  and  on 
the  opposite  side  of  the  shaft  is  a  cluster  of  roses. 

It  seems  that  Rev.  Lawrence  Eberhart  was  ordained  by  Bishop  Asbury, 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  that  in  the  later  years  of  his  life  he 
nominally  identified  himself  with  that  denomination.  Just  how  and  why  this 
was  done  no  one  knows.  It  was  probably  owing  to  the  fact  that  the  Metho- 
dists owned  and  occupied  a  comfortable  meeting  house  near  his  home,  and 
in  order  to  enjoy  the  advantages  and  benefits  of  their  class-meetings,  which 
were  for  members  of  that  Church  exclusively,  he  permitted  his  name  to  be 
entered  upon  the  church  record,  as  Martin  Boehm  did,  and  thus  became  a 
recognized  member  of  the  Methodist  Church,  and  finally  came  to  regard  him- 
self as  such. 

In  the  conference  of  1  805,  which  met  at  the  home  of  Jacob  Bowlus,  near 
Middletown,  Maryland,  the  name  of  "Lorenz "  Eberhart  appears  for  the  first 
time  as  a  minister  and  member  of  the  original  conference,  and  in  1812,  when 
the  conference  met  in  the  old  log  church  near  Keedysville,  Maryland,  "Lor- 
enz" Eberhart's  name  appears  in  the  minutes  for  the  last  time.  At  this  named 
conference,  which  was  four  years  after  his  ordination  by  Bishop  Asbury,  ac- 
cording to  the  inscription  on  his  monument,  he  not  only  appears  as  a  member 
of  the  conference  and  a  minister  in  the  United  Brethren  Church,  but  he  was 
assigned  some  special  work :  to  take  charge  of  Rev.  Henry  Spayth's  appoint- 
ments while   he    made   a  visit  to  Virginia.     The  facts  probably  are  that  Law- 


UNITED     BRETHREN     CHURCH  231 

rence  Eberhart  was  ordained  by  Bishop  Asbury  under  the  auspices  of  the  United 
Brethren  Church,  and  thereafter  remained  a  minister  in  its  communion  for 
many  years,  certainly  till  1812,  finally  identifying  himself  in  regular  worship 
and  nominal  membership  with  the  Methodist  Church,  because  they  had  a 
house  of  w^orship  and  regular  preaching  service  in  Middletown,  w^here  it  w^as 
most  convenient  for  him  to  attend.  At  any  rate,  Lawrence  Eberhart  -was  a 
pioneer  member  and  minister  of  the  Church  of  the  United  Brethren  in  Christ, 
and  that  for  a  period  of  not  less  than  fifteen  or  tw^enty  years,  during  v/hich 
time  he  actively  participated  in  the  work  of  the  Church,  and  opened  his  house 
for  the  public  preaching  of  the  Word,  and  gave  to  God's  ministers  and  people 
a  most  cordial  w^elcome  and  unbounded  hospitality. 

The  house  on  the  farm  on  which  he  settled  w^hen  he  returned  from  the 
vs^ar  is  still  standing.  It  was  built  about  1  750,  and  is  now^  one  hundred  and 
sixty  years  old.  It  is  a  stone  structure,  about  40  x  30  feet,  w^ith  three  rooms 
on  the  first  floor,  where  it  seems  but  two  originally  existed.  It  is  situated  but 
a  few^  hundred  yards  from  Middle  Creek.  The  house  is  dilapidated,  and  the 
surroundings  are  entirely  neglected.  The  view^  given  herewith  is  from  the 
northwest,  and  shows  the  north  end  and  back  of  the  house.  The  wall,  as 
you  see  in  the  cut,  is  broken  and  seriously  out  of  plumb,  and  supported  by 
huge  props.  The  little  building  at  the  end  w^as  once  the  spring-house,  through 
vs^hich,  proceeding  from  underneath  the  main  dwelling,  flows  a  splendid 
stream  of  vv^ater.  Here,  in  this  old,  old  stone  house,  that  has  stood  the  storms 
of  a  century  and  a  half,  but  is  now^  unable  to  resist  the  encroachments  of  time 
w^ithout  "props,"  the  conference  of  1  806  convened  on  May  2  1 ,  and  continued 
in  session  two  days.  The  following  preachers  were  present :  John  Neidig, 
Lorenz  Eberhart,  Joseph  Hoffman,  Peter  Kemp,  Christian  Krum,  Michael 
Thomas,  John  Hershey,  Christian  Newcomer,  Jacob  Bowlus,  Henry  Krum 
and  George  A.  Geeting. 

The  writer  had  always  heard  that  the  house  in  w^hich  Mr.  Eberhart  died, 
located  a  mile  or  more  from  the  old  homestead,  and  in  w^hich  he  spent  his 
later  years,  was  the  place  where  the  conference  of  1  806  was  held  ;  but  his 
granddaughter,  Mrs.  Sarah  C.  Kepler,  directed  my  attention  to  the  old  home 
of  her  grandfather,  w^hich  1  finally  found  and  photographed,  so  as  to  present 
the  accompanying  picture  of  an  interesting  and  historic  building,  which  I 
feared  would  fall  down  before  I  could  get  a  "snap-shot"  at  it. 

Lawrence  Eberhart  had  a  son,  who  became  a  minister  in  the  United 
Brethren  Church.  His  name  was  John  Everhart,  and  he  lived  and  died,  Mrs. 
Kepler  informed  me,  in  Hooks  Point,  Iowa. 


JOHNSNOOK 

At  the  mention  of  the  name  of  John  Snook  many  of  the  few  surviving 
ministers  and  members  of  our  Church  who  -were  born  in  the  morning  of  the 
present  century,  and  who  lived  or  labored   in  the  bounds  of  the  original  con- 


232 


LANDMARK    HISTORY    OF    THE 


ference,  organized    at    Peter   Kemp's,  near   Frederick,  Maryland,  in  1800,  will 
experience  a  thrill  of  interest  which  the  memory  of  early  religious  associations 

alone  can  inspire.  He  was  one  of  the  pio- 
neer members  of  the  Church  of  the  United 
Brethren  in  Christ,  and  was  born,  I  think, 
near  Haugh's  Church,  Frederick  County, 
Maryland,  in  1 789,  and  died  near  Keys- 
ville,  Carroll  County,  Maryland,  February 
27,  1872,  in  the  eighty-third  year  of  his 
age.  I  think  he  was  the  first  person  buried 
in  the  beautiful  United  Brethren  cemetery 
at  Keysville.  The  first  quarterly  conference 
that  the  writer  ever  attended  officially  w^as 
at  Keysville,  w^here  Brother  Snook  resided. 
That  was  in  1870,  if  I  remember  correctly, 
just  two  years  before  he  died.  That  vv^as 
the  first  and  last  time  I  saw  him.  The  im- 
press of  that  single  contact  with  that  sin- 
gularly simple  and  conscientious  man  of 
God  is  consciously  w^ith  me  as  I  pen  these 
lines.  Peter  Kemp,  son  of  Rev.  Peter 
Kemp,  who  w^ent  with  me  to  that  confer- 
John  Snook  encc,    fumishcd    this    concerning     Brother 

Snook's  death :  "John  Snook,  who  was  widely  known  in  the  Church,  the 
father-in-law  of  Revs.  J.  W.  Fulkerson  and  W.  A.  Jackson,  and  member  of 
the  United  Breth- 
ren Church  for 
many  years,  fell 
asleep  injesus  Feb- 
ruary 27,  1872,  in 
his  eighty-third 
year.  Many  of  the 
old  itinerant  minis- 
ters of  the  Church 
remember  his  un- 
bounded hospital- 
ity w^hile  sojourning 
under  his  roof.  He 
leaves  a  kind  and 
affectionate  widow^, 
six  daughters,  and 
tw^o  sons  to  mourn 

hi  I  John  Snook  s  Home 

IS    absence ;     but, 

thank  God,  we  mourn  not  as   those  who    have    no    hope."     That  was  Brother 

Kemp's  tribute  of  love  to  Father  Snook's  memory. 


UNITED    BRETHREN    CHURCH  233 

Several  times  he  spoke  to  me  about  Brother  Snook,  and  told  me  how 
much  he  admired  him,  and  what  an  inspiration  and  power  he  was  in  the 
spiritual  affairs  of  the  Church,  and  what  an  able  and  liberal  giver  he  was 
in  the  temporal  support  he  gave  the  cause  of  God.  He  was  a  son  of  Adam 
and  Mary  Snook,  w^ho  are  buried  at  Haugh's  Church,  one  mile  from  the  old 
homestead,  fdis  mother  lived  with  him  after  her  husband  died.  She,  too, 
was  a  member  of  the  United  Brethren  Church,  and  died  in  great  peace  on 
the   1  I  th  of  June,   1864,  ninety-nine  years  old,  save  one  month. 

Brother  John  Snook  and  Francis  Scott  Key,  author  of  the  "Star  Spangled 
Banner,"  v/ere  born  in  the  same  community,  the  latter  in  I  779  and  the  former 
in  1  789,  Brother  Snook  being  just  ten  years  younger  than  Mr.  Key.  They 
were  not  only  neighbors,  but  intimate  friends.  They  were  singularly  and  sub- 
stantially alike  in  tvvro  important  respects,  patriotically  and  religiously.  They 
were  an  inspiration  to  each  other  in  the  matter  of  resisting  the  encroachments 
of  Great  Britain ;  so  when  Key  w^as  w^riting  the  memorable  w^ords  of  our 
national  song  in  sight  of  Fort  McHenry,  he  w^as  simply  uttering  the  fiery 
sentiments  of  young  Snook's  heart.  In  religion  Key  and  Snook  w^ere  alike  in 
disposition  and  desire,  but  not  in  spiritual  attainment.  Snook  had  obtained 
the  witness  of  the  Spirit,  but  Key  had  not ;  so  when  they  set  about  establish- 
ing the  first  Sunday  School  in  that  (their)  community.  Key  furnished  the 
books  and  rendered  other  valuable  assistance,  and  Snook  w^as  assigned  to  the 
more  spiritual  features  of  the  work,  such  as  praying  w^ith  and  exhorting  the 
people.  Later  on  there  was  seen  and  expressed  a  closer  spiritual  resemblance 
between  these  two  men;  and  they  finally  w^ent  about  together  holding  prayer- 
meetings  in  Middleburg  and  other  communities. 

The  picture  that  accompanies  this  sketch  w^as  taken  from  a  small  photo- 
graph taken  by  J.  R.  Marken,  Frederick,  Maryland,  soon  after  that  process  of 
taking  pictures  had  been  discovered.  It  is  considered  by  Sister  Snook,  his 
widow^,  from  whom  I  got  it,  a  true  picture.  In  his  calm,  firmly  set  features 
something  of  his  strength  of  character  is  revealed  ;  and  in  his  dress  there  is 
simple  elegance  of  taste  in  style  and  quality.  Those  who  knew  Brother  Snook 
will  readily  recognize  this  picture,  and  will  rejoice  in  the  sacred  memories 
w^hich  his  face  recalls. 

CHRISTIAN     REMSBERG 

Mr.  Christian  Remsberg  was  a  pioneer  member  of  the  Church  of  the 
United  Brethren  in  Christ.  His  father's  name  was  Henry  Remsberg,  who 
lived  near  Walkersville,  Frederick  County,  Maryland,  where  Christian  was 
born,  November  28,  I  785.  His  first  wife  was  a  Miss  Snook,  who  lived  only 
a  short  time.  In  August,  1815,  he  married  a  Miss  Bowlus.  He  obtained  a 
common  school  education  at  Retreat  school-house,  near  Joshua  Doub's,  where 
Brother  Peter  Kemp,  son  of  Rev.  Peter  Kemp,  taught  school.  Of  course,  it 
was  long  after  Christian  Remsberg  went  to  school  that  Peter  Kemp  taught  at 
Retreat. 


234 


LANDMARK     HISTORY    OF    THE 


Mr.  Remsberg  was  a  farmer,  and  lived  near  Middletown,  Frederick 
County,  Maryland.  He  also  ovv^ned  and  operated  a  w^oolen  mill,  and  did  a 
large  business.  In  the  spring,  w^hen  sheep- 
shearing  was  over,  he  vv^ould  send  out  his 
tw^o-horse  w^agon,  v^^ith  flat  bed  and  no 
springs,  and  gather  up  wool,  take  it  to  the 
mill,  where  it  was  carded  and  dressed,  and 
then  returned  to  the  people,  who  spun  it 
themselves  or  else  had  Mr.  Remsberg  man- 
ufacture "linsey-w^oolsey"  goods  out  of  it 
for  them.  These  goods,  w^hich  also  in- 
cluded blankets,  w^ere  returned  to  the  peo- 
ple who  furnished  the  wool  in  the  fall,  in 
case  they  were  not  sold  to  the  manufactur- 
er. The  Remsbergs,  Henry,  Casper,  Chris- 
tian (brothers),  David  and  Benjamin  (sons 
of   Henry),  were    all   engaged    at    different 

Christian  Remsberg  .  •  •        .1  £1.^  C  1_~J 

times  in  the  manuracture  or  woolen  goods, 
and  all  of  them  were  United  Brethren.  The  old  mill,  shown  in  the  cut,  was 
built  by  Casper  Remsberg  in  1814.  It  was,  however,  originally  intended  for 
a  grist-mill,  but  was  finally  fitted  up  and  used  for  a  woolen-mill.  The  old  mill 
is  an  interesting  relic  of  by-gone  days,  and  also  of  the  "linsey-woolsey"  era, 
including  a  quaint  method  of  manufacture.  Christian  Remsberg,  whose  pic- 
ture appears  with 
this  sketch,  w^as  a 
devout  Christian, 
and  a  staunch,  in- 
fluential member  of 
the  United  Breth- 
ren Church  from 
early  manhood  to 
the  day  of  his  death, 
which  occurred  on 
March  29,  1874,  in 
his  eighty-ninth 
year.  The  later 
years  of  his  life  he 
spent  in  Middle- 
tovv^n,  a  neat  village 
of  about  one  thous- 
and souls ;  but  his 
farm  and  home  and 
mill    w^ere    located 


Casper  Remsbergs  Woolen  Mill 


about  two  miles  south  of  the  town.     A  picture  of  the  house  he  built  and  lived 
in,  and  w^hich  still  stands  in  a  good  state  of  preservation,  is  herewith  furnished. 


UNITED    BRETHREN    CHURCH 


235 


It  is  a  neat,  home-like  place,  and  was  once,  say  seventy  years  ago,  a  resting- 
place  for  God's  ministers,  who  always  found  a  warm  welcome,  and  the  pur- 
est, sweetest  hospitality  was  ever  dispensed  at  Brother  Remberg's  home. 
Many  of  the  pioneer  preachers  of  the  United  Brethren  Church  met,  worshiped 
and  were  entertained  in  this  home. 

Christian  Remsberg  was  a  man  of  wide  and  good  influence  in  the  com- 
munity. On  all  questions  of  moral  reform  and  social  purity  he  stood  abso- 
lutely plumb  and  characteristically  outspoken,  and  was  therefore  a  conserving 
and  purifying  force  in  society,  and  a  power  in  the  Church  of  God.  As  a 
United  Brethren  he  was  churchly,  aggressive  and  liberal,  and  stood  in  an 
official  relation  to  the  Church  for  many  years.  Politically  he  w^as  originally 
a  Federalist,  but  subsequently  a  Whig,  and  finally  a  Republican.  He  was 
one  among  two  or  three  in  his  election  district  who  voted  for  Abraham  Lin- 
coln in  1860.  In  1861  he  was  appointed  postmaster  at  Middletown,  which 
position  he  held  for  four  years. 

His  son,  Mr.  George  W.  Remsberg,  who  kindly  helped  me  to  these  items 
of  interest  in  the  life  of  his  father,  and  loaned  me  the  photograph  from  which 
the  accompanying  cut  was  made,  is  an  intelligent,  affable  Christian  gentleman, 
useful  in  the  Church  and  community,  and  justly  esteemed  by  his  neighbors. 

MRS.    MARIAH    C.     REMSBERG 


Mrs.  Mariah  C.  Remsberg,  whose  maiden  name  was  Mariah  Catharine 
Link,  of  Virginia,  was  the  wife  of  Henry 
Remsberg,  w^ho  w^as  a  prominent  member 
of  the  United  Brethren  Church  in  its  early 
history,  and  lived  and  died  near  Middle- 
town,  Maryland. 

Mrs.  Remsberg,  whose  picture  accom- 
panies this  sketch,  w^as  one  of  the  pioneer 
mothers  of  the  Church,  being  actively  as- 
sociated in  church  work  and  v/orship  with 
the  wives  of  Jacob  Bowlus,  Isaac  Michael, 
Valentine  Doub,  John  Hoover,  Jacob  Toms 
and  many  others  whose  homes  v/ere  regu- 
lar preaching  places  for  our  ministers  when 
w^e  had  few^  or  no  churches.  Mrs.  Rems- 
berg's  home,  a  cut  of  which  appears  here- 
w^ith,  located  a  mile  or  two  southwest  of 
Middletown,  was  a  regular  preaching  place 
in  the  early  history  of  the  Church.  It  is,  as 
you  see,  a  brick  structure,  about  30  x  45 
feet,  with  kitchen  and  several  outbuildings, 

UC        1    .    1  1     ]         .   ■,  ,  .  ,    ,  ,       ,  Mrs.  Henry  Remsberg 

or  which  are  delapidated.     Although  the 

premises  are  occupied   by  a  family,  the  surroundings  are  sadly  expressive  of 


236 


LANDMARK    HISTORY    OF    THE 


that  decay  which  characterizes  mortal  hfe.  In  the  picture  the  house  looks  to 
be  in  a  fair  state  of  preservation ;  but  the  walls  are  cracked,  the  porch  is 
rickety,  many  panes   of   glass  are  out,  and  the  yard  is  overgrown  with  weeds. 

It  is  an  old  house, 
built  probably  by 
Brother  Remsberg 
in  the  early  part  of 
the  century.  Here 
she  and  her  hus- 
band began  house- 
keeping, and  here 
their  tw^elve  chil- 
dren w^ere  born — 
seven  boys  and  five 
girls.  Intothishouse 
and  home  they  in- 
vited God's  minis- 
ters ;  and  so  it  be- 
came one  of  the 
regular  "appoint- 
ments" of  the  first 
and  almost  endless 
"circuit "  vv^hich  con- 
stituted   the   entire 

Church  a  hundred  years  ago.  I  felt  strangely  and  deeply  impressed  as  I 
stood  in  the  quaint  old  room  where  Otterbein,  Newcomer,  Geeting,  and  per- 
haps all  of  the  first  preachers  spoke  to  the  crowds  that  gathered  there  every 
four  weeks  to  hear  those  simple  men  of  God  preach  the  Gospel. 

Mrs.  Remsberg  was  a  very  spiritual  woman,  devoted  to  her  husband  and 
children,  quite  churchly  and  given  to  hospitality.  She  loved  to  entertain  the 
many  who  came  from  distant  communities  to  attend  divine  service  at  her 
home.  One  of  her  daughters,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Hoover,  widow  of  Gideon 
Hoover,  of  Wolfsville,  Maryland,  is  still  living.  She  is  aged  and  feeble  in 
health,  but  strong  in  the  faith  and  hope  of  the  gospel.  Mrs.  John  Maugan,  of 
Wolfsville,  daughter  of  Mrs.  Hoover,  and  granddaughter  of  Mrs.  Remsberg, 
kindly  loaned  me  the  picture  from  which  the  accompanying  cut  was  made. 
It  is  a  pleasing  picture  of  a  godly  woman.  Another  one  of  her  daughters, 
Jane  R.  Remsberg,  married  a  minister.  Rev.  John  Haney,  of  the  Minnesota 
Conference,  who  is  about  ninety  years  of  age. 

Mrs.  Remsberg's  husband,  who  died  about  fifty  years  ago  in  his  seventy- 
first  year,  owned  and  operated  a  woolen  mill  near  his  home.  His  son  David 
also  engaged  in  that  business,  and  built  himself  a  fine  mill  near  his  father's 
factory,  and  equipped  it  with  all  the  then  modern  facilities  for  manufacture. 
But  that  fine  mill,  owing  to  a  decline  in  business  or  misfortune  of  some  kind, 
was  finally  torn  down  and  the  machinery  sold. 


lenry  Kemsberg  s  Home 


UNITED     BRETHREN    CHURCH 


237 


The  dwelling  house  which  David  built  near  the  new^  mill  was  afterward 
owned  and  occupied  by  his  brother  Benjamin,  who  still  lives,  I  believe,  in 
New^  Bloomfield,  Ohio.  A  picture  of  the  house  built  by  David  Remsberg  and 
afterward  owned  and  occupied  by  his  brother  Benjamin,  w^hich  is  still  stand- 
ing, is  given  in  this  sketch.  It,  too,  show^s  signs  of  neglect,  and  is  in  the  line  of 
decay.  Under  that  old  roof  and  those  massive  w^alls  the  pioneer  ministers  of 
our  Church  were  wont  to  congregate. 


DOUB'S  SUNDAY  SCHOOL 

About  the  year  1830  Doub's  Sunday  School  was  organized  under  the 
auspices  of  the  United  Brethren  in  Christ  at  the  home  of  Valentine  Doub, 
who  w^as  a  son-in-law  of  Rev.  Peter  Kemp,  and  in  the  same  house  and  room 


;^   •/^■« 


Petf-i'  K-einp*s  hlome 

where  the  General  Church  organized  in  1 800.  I  cannot  say  positively,  but 
I  am  inclined  to  the  opinion  that  Mrs.  Valentine  Doub,  commonly  called 
Mother  Doub  or  "Aunt  Esther,"  w^as  the  first  superintendent.  I  know^  she  w^as 
the  superintendent  for  several  years,  but  1  cannot  fix  the  exact  time  of  her 
term.  In  1839  Mr.  David  Kemp,  who  lived  within  a  stone's  throw  of  Valen- 
tine Doub's,  was  the  superintendent,  and  Cornelius  Staley  was  the  assistant. 
Miss  Kate  Hoover,  who  lived  some  years  w^ith  the  Doubs  and  who  made  her 
home  in  Frederick,  and  was  one  of  the   most   liberal   subscribers  toward  the 


238 


LANDMARK     HISTORY    OF    THE 


Centennial  Memorial  United  Brethren  Church,  but  who  now  lives  at  Carlisle, 
Penn'a,  has  a  book  which  she  redeemed  w^ith  tickets  in  that  school  of  I  839. 
Mr.  Ezra  Doub  w^as  the  librarian  at  that  time,  and  the  following  were  some  of 
the  teachers :  Mother  Doub,  Mrs.  Ezra  Doub,  Mrs.  Edward  Baker,  Mrs.  David 
Kemp,  Miss  Mary  Schultz,  Mr.  Isaac  Bruner,  Miss  Emma  Staley,  Miss  Ruth 
Kemp,  Miss  Hester  Preston,  Mrs.  C.  Staley. 

Some  of  the  scholars  w^ere  Miss  Kate  Hoover,  Mrs.  W.  H.  Doub,  now^ 
living  in  Frederick,  and  one  of  the  most  liberal  contributors  and  supporters 
of  the  Centennial  Church ;  Miss  Catharine  Pasley,  Miss  Catharine  Martz,  Ezra 
Miller,  Benjamin  Brane,  Peter  Brane  and  Jacob  Martz,  w^ho  became  a  Lutheran 
minister.  Of  all  those  who  once  occupied  seats  in  Doub's  Sunday  School  I 
only  know  of  three  who  still  live.  Miss  Catharine  Hoover,  Mrs.  W.  H.  Doub 
and  Miss  Mary  Schultz. 


JOHN     HOOVER 


This  picture  recalls  the  form  and  faithfulness  of  one  of  God's  noble  men, 
who  lived  in  the  dish  of  the  mountain  in  which  the  picturesque  village  of 
Wolfsville,  Maryland,  is  located,  just  at  the  head  of  the  beautiful  Middletown 
Valley,  one  of  the  most  fair  and  fertile  stretches  of  country  to  be  seen  any- 
where. Here  John 
Hoover,  the  subject 
of  this  sketch,  was 
born  on  the  20th 
of  January,  I  777. 
Amid  these  moun- 
tain scenes  and  as- 
sociations, with  one 
of  the  most  inter- 
esting pages  in  the 
book  of  nature 
spread  out  before 
him,  and  the  good 
seed  of  the  gospel 
being  sown  in  his 
heart  by  pious  par- 
ents, young  Hoover 
grew  to  manhood, 
and  soon  thereafter  embraced  Christ  and  joined  the  United  Brethren  Church, 
in  w^hose  favor  and  fellowship  he  lived  and  labored  till  the  day  of  his  death, 
which  occurred  in  the  balmy  month  of  June,  1861,  in  his  eighty-fourth  year. 
He  died  in  great  peace  surrounded  by  his  family,  the  Rev.  W.  L.  Mathews 
also  being  present.  Thus  ended  the  long  and  useful  life  of  one  of  the  most 
faithful  pioneer  members  of  the  Church  of  the  United  Brethren  in  Christ. 


H<, 


UNITED  BRETHREN  CHURCH 


239 


About  the  year  1 800   he   married   Miss  Susanna  Harshman,  with  whom 
he  hved  in  happy  wedlock  many  years. 

His  home  in  Wolfsville  was  a  regular  preaching  place  for  our  early 
preachers.  The  house,  a  substantial 
stone  structure,  and  also  the  barn  in 
which  the  "big  meetings"  were  held,  is 
still  standing,  and  is  owned  and  occupied 
by  his  daughter-in-law,  Mrs.  Gideon 
Hoover,  a  daughter  of  Henry  Remsberg 
and  a  life-long  member  of  the  Church. 

The  picture  herewith  furnished  is  a 
true  one,  and  show^s  a  countenance  with 
uniform  features,  peaceful  and  prepos- 
sessing. To  those  w^ho  knew  Brother 
Hoover  this  picture  will  recall  a  Chris- 
tian father  and  family  whose  unceasing 
love  and  hospitality  should  never  be 
forgotten. 

The  young  people  in  our  Church 
who  enjoy  its  present  opportunities  w^ill 
never  know^  how^  much  they  owe  to  the 
fathers  and  mothers  of  the  earlier  gen- 
erations.    Though   a  multitude   of  these 

John  Hoover 

have  gone  to  their  reward,  their  prayers 

and  abundant  faith  have  given  us  the  blessed  heritage  we  now^  enjoy. 


JERUSALEM    AND    VICINITY 


Jacob  Tom's  Home 


About  one  mile  and 
a  half  northwest  of 
Myersville,  Maryland, 
at  the  upper  end  of 
the  beautiful  Middle- 
tow^n  Valley,  a  union 
church  w^as  built  of 
logs  many  years  ago, 
probably  about  the 
year  1 800  or  earlier. 
The  United  Brethren 
people  subsequently 
bought  that  church 
and  worshiped  in  it 
till  they  were  practi- 
cally   driven    out     by 


240 


LANDMARK     HISTORY    OF    THE 


Jacob  Toms 


the  very  people  from  whom  they  had  purchased  the  property,  perhaps  about 

1852,  when  they  built  a  more  com- 
fortable and  commodious  brick  church 
in  the  town  of  Myersville. 

That  old  church  w^as  w^ell  and 
w^idely  known  as  "Jerusalem  Chapel," 
and  many  marvelously  fine  meetings, 
spiritually  speaking,  w^ere  held  in  that 
house  under  the  auspices  of  the  United 
Brethren  Church,  among  w^hose  pio- 
neer members  in  the  vicinity  of  Jeru- 
salem w^e  may  mention  Jacob  Rhoads, 
Jacob  Doub,  Jacob  Toms  (many  Ja- 
cobs, you  see),  Abraham  Doub  and 
Valentine  Doub,  who  married  the 
daughter  of  Rev.  Peter  Kemp,  "whose 
home  he  finally  owned  and  occupied. 
Jacob  Rhoads  was  the  grandfather  of 
Brother  John  J.  Smith,  of  Myersville. 
He  married  Susan  Leatherman,  and 
lived  in  a  log  house  in  Middletown, 
Maryland,  located  on  the  southeast 
corner   of   Keller   Street,  now^   ov/ned 

and  occupied  by  Brother  Josiah  Doub.     Jacob  Rhoads   came   from  Germany' 

He  was   a  tailor.     From  Middletown 

he  moved   to  Pleasant  Walk  (Jerusa- 
lem), where  he  lived  some  years. 

Jacob    Toms,  Sr.,  lived    within    a 

half  mile  of  Jerusalem  Chapel,  w^here 

Cyrus  Routzahn  and  wife  w^ere  con- 
verted, together  w^ith  scores  of  others, 

some  of  w^hom  are  still  living.     Jacob 

Toms'   home,  built    by  him    in    1811, 

w^as  a  regular  preaching  place  for  our 

ministers.      His  son  Jacob  bought  the 

home    place,  and    now^  it  is  occupied 

by  John    Henry   Toms,    grandson    of 

Jacob  Toms,  Sr.,  who  is  buried  at  Jeru- 
salem, together  with   his  wife  Magda- 

lena,  w^ho   died    November   24,   1852, 

aged   eighty-four  years.     Jacob  Toms 

died    two    years    later    (1854),    in    his 

eighty-eighth    year.     Jacob  Toms,  Jr., 

w^ho  married  Mary  (Polly)  Floyd,  w^as 

also  a  member  of  the  United  Brethren  m      ,     ,  t 

Alrs.  Jacob   1  oms 


UNITED  BRETHREN  CHURCH 


241 


Church.  In  connection  with  the  cut  of  the  old  Toms  home  we  give  herewith 
pictures  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jacob  Toms,  Jr.  Mrs.  Jacob  Toms  is  remembered 
as  a  lady  of  great  social  and  spiritual  refinement. 

In  this  Toms  home  Newcomer  preached  on  the  25th  of  September,  1819, 
and  lodged  w^ith  Jacob  Doub,  whose  home  w^as  near  by,  and  was  also  used 
for  public  worship.  Jacob  Doub  and  his  w^ife  Elizabeth  are  also  buried  in 
the  old  Jerusalem  graveyard. 

Abraham  Doub,  brother  of  Jacob  and  Valentine  Doub,  also  lived  in  the 
vicinity  of  Jerusalem,  on  the  farm  now  owned  and  occupied  by  Hezekiah 
Routzahn.  Here  Rev.  John  Hildt  preached  on  the  20th  of  February,  1822, 
from  Hebrews  13:8,  "With  astonishing  pow^er,"  Newcomer  says. 

In  the  Toms  home  the  board  of  trustees  of  the  Benevolent  Society  of  the 
United  Brethren  in  Christ  met  April  4,  1828.  The  following  members  were 
present:  Valentine  Doub,  George  Marteney,  Jacob  Doub,  Joseph  Hershey, 
and  Rev.  John  Hildt,  the  latter  being  the  secretary ;  and  on  the  26th  of  Feb- 
ruary, 1  839,  the  same  board  met  in  the  old  Jerusalem  Chapel,  and  the  follow- 
ing members  were  present:  George  Geeting,  Valentine  Doub,  Jacob  Rinehart 
and  John  Hershey. 


CHAPTER    III 


CHURCHES    IN     FREDERICK    COUNTY 


HE  Church  of  the  United  Brethren  in  Christ  was  ecclesiasti- 
cally born  and  partly  reared  in  Frederick  County,  Mary- 
land. For  thirty  years  certain  ministers  of  the  Gospel,  under 
the  leadership  of  William  Otterbein,  Martin  Boehm,  Chris- 
tian Newcomer,  Martin  Krider,  George  A.  Geeting,  Abraham 
Troxel  and  others,  representing  different  denominations, 
traveled  through  Maryland,  Pennsylvania  and  Virginia,  and  held  great  union 
meetings  of  an  evangelistic  nature,  usually  on  Whitsuntide.  The  services 
were  generally  held  in  barns  or  private  houses,  owing  to  the  fact  that  there 
were  but  few  churches  in  those  outlying  districts,  and  often  the  doors  of  these 
few  churches  were  closed  against  these  "unsectarian  ministers." 

After  a  period  of  thirty  years  the  first  general  gathering  of  the  "unsectarian 
ministers"  occurred  at  the  home  of  Peter  Kemp,  some  two  miles  west  of 
Frederick,  Maryland,  on  the  25th  of  September,  1800.  There  and  then  the 
United  Brethren  Church  was  born.  At  that  conference  the  following  mem- 
bers were  present:  William  Otterbein,  Martin  Boehm,  John  Hershey,  Abraham 
Troxel,  Christian  Krum,  Henry  Krum,  George  Pfrimmer,  Henry  Boehm,  Chris- 
tian Newcomer,  Dietrich  Aurand,  Jacob  Geisinger,  George  A.  Geeting,  Jacob 
Bowlus  and  Adam  Lehman.  In  the  prosecution  of  their  evangelistic  labors, 
baptized  by  the  spirit  of  gospel  unity  and  love  for  souls,  these  men  uncons- 
ciously laid  the  lines  of  organized  church  life  ;  and,  when  they  came  together 
at  Peter  Kemp's,  representing  a  w^idely  scattered  constituency  of  probably 
25,000,  a  multiplicity  of  sacred  influences  and  associations  lifted  up  their 
voices  unitedly  and  said,  "Let  this  child  of  Providence  be  christened."  The 
conference  assumed  legislative  functions,  organized  itself  and  its  adhering 
population  into  a  church,  elected  bishops  and  planned  otherwise  for  larger 
results  under  the  name  of  the  United  Brethren  in  Christ.  That  act  made 
Peter  Kemp's  home  historic — the  Bethlehem  of  our  denomination.  Here  the 
Church  was    organized    and    instituted,  and    from   1790   to   1 830,  according  to 


UNITED    BRETHREN    CHURCH  243 

the  written  record,  it  was  a  centre  of  life  and  influence  for  the  w^hole  Church. 
Great  meetings  were  held  at  Peter  Kemp's,  and  distinguished  ministers  of 
many  denominations,  including  Bishops  Asbury,  Otterbein,  Boehm,  Newcomer 
and  Lorenzo  Dow  broke  the  bread  of  life  in  that  sacred  place. 

Among  the  pioneer  ministers  and  members  in  Frederick  County  I  may 
mention  Rev.  Peter  Kemp,  Rev.  Adam  Lehman,  John  Cronise,  Peter  Shook, 
Benjamin  Nidig,  Jacob  Perry,  Benjamin  Brane,  John  Staley,  George  Stokes, 
Valentine  Doub,  Jacob  Weller,  Rev.  Jacob  Bow^lus,  Rev.  Law^rence  Eberhart, 
John  Snook,  Henry  Hemp,  Joshua  Doub,  William  Reinhart,  Jacob  Toms,  Yost 
Harbaugh,  Abram  Doub,  John  Harp,  Frederick  Rider,  Jacob  Martin,  Reuben 
Osier,  Lewis  Wertenbaker,  Henry  Remsberg,  Gideon  Hoover,  Christian  Rems- 
berg  and  John  Hoover. 

The  conference  of  I  800  vv^as  composed  of  ministers  of  different  denom- 
inations ;  but  they  had  labored  for  years  independent  of  ecclesiastical  associa- 
tions, and,  without  organizing  their  numerous  converts  into  societies,  w^hich 
show^s  that  they  were  innocent  of  any  intention  to  establish  a  new  church. 
From  1  780  to  1830  United  Brethren  ministers  canvassed  this  lovely  valley  for 
souls ;  and  in  many  of  her  towns  and  villages,  even  w^here  our  Church  is  not 
now^  represented,  they  w^ere  the  first  to  break  the  bread  of  life  to  the  people. 
But  their  long  rides,  soul-saving  sermons  and  wearisome  labors  are  over  now, 
and  to  each  and  all  the  Master  has  said,  "Well  done."  Peace  to  their  ashes ! 
Blessed  be  their  memory  ! 


WHERE    THE    CONFERENCE    MET 

After  the  organization  of  the  Church  at  Peter  Kemp's  in  1  800,  and  before 
we  had  a  house  of  worship  in  the  territory,  this  original  conference  met  in 
Frederick  County  as  follows  : 

September  23,  1800,  at  Peter  Kemp's;  October  6,  1802,  John  Cronise's, 
near  Monocacy ;  May  29,  1805,  Rev.  Jacob  Baulus',  a  mile  east  of  Middle- 
town  ;  May  21,  1  806,  Rev.  Lawrence  Eberhart' s,  about  a  mile  south  of  Mid- 
dletow^n.  The  tw^o  latter  homes  are  still  standing.  The  Church  now^  has  four- 
teen organized  congregations  in  the  county,  v/ith  a  communicant  membership 
of  about  two  thousand. 


CHURCHES    IN     FREDERICK    COUNTY 

ROCKY  SPRINGS 

This  church,  contrary  to  every  historic  sentiment,  has  been  sold.  It  w^as 
the  successor  of  the  old  Peter  Kemp  appointment.  When  the  society  at 
Peter  Kemp's  (or  Valentine  Doub's,  as  it  was  called  later)  ceased  to  w^orship 
in  that  historic  home,  the  Church  and  Sunday  School  services  w^ere  transferred 
to  Rocky  Spring  School  House,  about  two  miles  and  a  half  west  of  Frederick, 


244  LANDMARK     HISTORYOFTHE 

and  about  one  mile  west  of  the  Doub  home.  Here  the  congregation  wor- 
shiped and  flourished  till  the  chapel  was  built,  some  twenty  years  ago.  Some 
of  the  leading  members  then  were  Cornelius  Staley  and  wife,  Joshua  Main 
and  w^ife,  Frederick  Kintz  and  wife,  Henry  Perry  and  wife,  Daniel  Shook, 
Lewis  Yonson,  Mahlon  Miller  and  John  Shankle.  Dr.  Brane,  of  East  Penn- 
sylvania, and  Rev.  J.  H.  Mayne,  of  Miami  Conference,  were  reared  in  this 
congregation. 

OTTERBEIN  MEMORIAL  CHURCH 

This  congregation  was  organized  in  Frederick  City,  Maryland,  by  Rev. 
A.  M.  Evers  in  1873,  and  reorganized  in  1875  by  Rev.  J.  L.  Grimm,  the  foun- 
der of  the  church,  who  also  organized  a  Sunday  School  the  same  year,  w^ith 
Peter  Kemp  as  superintendent.  The  services  were  all  held  in  Kemp  Hall. 
In  1883,  under  the  administration  of  Rev.  A.  M.  Evers,  a  lot  w^as  purchased 
on  East  Third  Street  for  $1,200,  and  the  first  church,  Otterbein  Memorial 
Chapel,  was  erected  on  that  lot  and  was  dedicated  by  Bishop  Glossbrenner. 

The  present  edifice  was  built  during  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  C.  W.  Stine- 
spring,  and  under  the  direction  of  the  following  committee :  Rev.  C.  W.  Stine- 
spring,  Reno  S.  Harp,  John  H.  Hamilton,  M.  Frank  Seacrist,  Jacob  Huffer, 
Rev.  L.  O.  Burtner,  Rev.  A.  B.  Station,  G.  C.  Snyder,  J.  W.  Long,  and  Cyrus 
Routzahn.  The  committee  purchased  the  "Diehl  Memorial  Chapel"  for  $4,- 
700,  and  added  to  that  chapel  a  beautiful  church  costing  about  $20,000.  The 
cornerstone  w^as  laid  October  22,  1900,  by  Rev.  Stinespring.  Dr.  Brane  de- 
livered the  address.  Dr.  Eshbach  also  spoke.  The  church  w^as  dedicated 
May  19,   1901,  by  Bishop  Kephart. 

The  pastors  of  this  church  have  been  the  following:  1870-1874,  Rev.  J. 
L.Grimm;  1880-1882,  C.  W.  Stinespring;  1882-1886,  A.  M.  Evers;  1886- 
1887,  W.  O.  Fries  and  D.  R.  Bovey ;  1887-1888,  S.  K.  Wine;  1888-1892,  G. 
W.  Kiracofe;  1892-1895,  M.  L.  Maysellis;  1895-1904,  C.  W.  Stinespring; 
1904  to  the  present  time,  J.  W.  Kiracofe.     The  property  is  valued  at  $25,000. 

BAULUS  CHAPEL 

This  church  was  located  in  Middletown,  Maryland.  In  1801,  or  about 
that  time,  a  little  church  was  erected  in  Middletown  by  the  "followers  of  Otter- 
bein" and  the  Methodists.  That  house  burned  down.  In  1830  the  tw^o 
churches  built  a  brick  chapel  and  used  it  alternately  until  1845,  when  the 
Methodists  sold  their  interest  in  the  old  church  to  the  United  Brethren  and 
erected  for  themselves  another  house  of  w^orship.  The  charter  for  the  United 
Brethren  Church  was  granted  May  1  1,  1854;  and  on  July  29,  1854,  a  deed 
vs^as  made  to  Rev.  John  Ruebush,  Jacob  Young,  Enos  Doub  and  Jonathan 
Perry,  trustees  of  the  church,  for  half  an  acre  of  land,  by  Christian  Remsberg. 
This  property  w^as  sold  by  the  trustees  to  the  school  board  of  the  tow^n  in 
1882.  They  then  bought  a  lot  on  Main  Street,  and  thereon  erected  the  pres- 
ent church,  "Otterbein  Chapel."     It  was  erected  in  1  882,  and   dedicated   that 


UNITED     BRETHREN     CHURCH  245 

fall  by  Rev.  J.  W.  Hott.  The  trustees  were  C.  H.  Crowell,  Enos  Doub,  Jacob 
Willhide,  Lewis  P.  Doub  and  Benjamin  Remsberg.  As  to  the  pastors  in 
Middletow^n,  the  conference  of  1 802  placed  the  appointments  on  Frederick 
Circuit,  which  included  Middletown,  in  the  care  of  George  Adam  Geeting, 
who  supplied  the  needs  of  the  work  as  well  as  he  could. 

In  1803  the  societies  in  Maryland,  unorganized  and  uncounted  (many 
thought  it  w^rong  to  number  Israel),  were  "left  in  the  hands  of  the  preachers 
in  Maryland  to  arrange  for;"  which  meant  that  Peter  Kemp,  Christian  New^- 
comer,  John  Hershey,  George  Adam  Geeting,  and  other  ministers  residing  in 
Frederick  and  Washington  Counties,  should  see  that  the  people  in  Maryland 
were  supplied  w^ith  preaching.  In  this  primitive  and  uncertain  way  the  people 
in  Frederick  County  w^ere  served  for  many  years.  Pastors  w^ere  regularly 
supplied  to  Frederick  Circuit,  which  included  Middletown.  as  follows:  1837, 
George  B.  Rimel  and  William  K.  McCabe ;  1838,  George  B.  Rimel  and  George 
A.  Shuey;  1839,  George  Gilbert  and  George  A.  Shuey ;  1840,  J.  J.  Gloss- 
brenner  and  George  A.  Shuey;  1841,  J.  J.  Glossbrenner  and  John  Eberhart; 
1842,  Jacob  Bachtol  and  Jacob  Markwood ;  1843,  D.  S.  Spessard  and  James 
Miles;  1  844,  D.  S.  Spessard ;  1845,  John  Ruebush  and  John  Gibbons ;  1846- 
1847,  George  B.  Rimel;  1848,  William  R.  Coursey  and  George  W.  Statton  ; 
1849,  W.  R.  Coursey  and  H.  B.  Winton  ;  1850,  H.  B.  Winton  and  W.  F. 
Lower;  1851,  George  W.  Statton  and  L.  W.  Matthews;  1852,  George  W. 
Statton  and  W.  L.  Lower;  1853,  Jacob  Bachtol  and  John  F.  Statton ;  1854, 
John  Ruebush  and  John  Phillips;  1855,  Theodore  Brashears ;  1856-8,  I.  K' 
Statton  and  Adam  Bovey  and  Samuel  Evers ;  1  859,  L.  W.  Matthews  and  W. 
A.  Jackson;  1860,  L.  W.  Matthews  and  T.  F.  Bushong ;  1861,  I.  Baltzell  and 
T.  F.  Bushong  ;  1  862-4,  W.  T.  Lower  and  J.  W.  Grimm  ;  1  865-7,  C.  T.  Stearn, 
J.  W.  Grimm  and  J.  D.  Freed;  1868-9,  A.  M.  Evers;  1870-1,  G.  W.  Statton; 
1872-4,  J.  K.  Nelson. 

Rev.  Jacob  Bowlus  and  his  brother  John  and  Rev.  Lawrence  Eberhart, 
three  prominent  members  of  the  Middletow^n  Church,  married  sisters — the 
Misses  Crate,  Eva  and  Mary  Backenbaugh.  Rev.  Lawrence  Eberhart,  who 
rescued  Colonel  Washington  from  the  clutches  of  the  British,  was  a  pioneer 
minister  in  the  United  Brethren  Church  and  a  regular  member  of  the  original 
conference,  from  which  he  received  w^ork  as  late  as  1812.  He  w^as  ordained 
by  Bishop  Asbury  as  a  United  Brethren  minister  in  1  808 — four  years  before 
he  received  his  last  appointment  from  the  conference,  which  met  at  "Geet- 
ing's  Meeting  House,"  near  Keedysville.  He  has  been  classed  as  a  Methodist, 
and  no  doubt  enrolled  his  name  on  that  church-book  for  purposes  of  fellow- 
ship, but  he  never  withdrew  from  the  United  Brethren  Church. 

GEORGETOWN  CHAPEL 

This  church,  located  at  Walkersville,  Maryland,  was  built  in  1857.  The 
cornerstone  was  laid  August  22,  1857,  and  on  Christmas  day  of  that  year  it 
was  dedicated  by  Bishop  Glossbrenner,  assisted  by  W.  R.  Coursey,  I.  K.  Stat- 
ton and  Henry  Talhelm.     The  building  committee  consisted  of  William  Rine- 


246  LANDMARK     HISTORYOFTHE 

hart,  John  D.  Cramer,  J.  C.  Kemp,  Jacob  Perry,  Jr.,  and  Peter  Kemp.  The 
trustees  were  Jacob  Perry,  Jr.,  and  WilHam  Rinehart,  John  D.  Cramer,  Joshua 
Kemp,  Edward  Baker,  Peter  Kemp  and  CorneUus  Staley.  The  house  cost 
$1,885,  but  has  been  enlarged  and  greatly  improved  in  recent  years. 

The  pastors  have  been:  1857,  I.  K.  Statton  and  Henry  Samuel  Evers; 
1859,  L.  W.  Matthews  and  T.  F.  Bushong  ;  1861-4,  W.  T.  Lower  and  J.  W. 
Grimm;  1865,  C.  T.  Stearn  and  J.  W.  Grimm;  1866,  C.  T.  Stearn  and  J.  D. 
Freed;  1867,  J.  D.  Freed  and  John  Delphy ;  1868,  J.  W.  Kiracofe  and  J.  W. 
Grimm;    1869,  J.  W.  Kiracofe  and  J.  E.   Hott ;    1870-1,  J.  K.  Nelson;    1872-4, 

A.  M.  Evers;  1875-7,  J.  L.  Grimm;  1878,  E.  Ludwick;  1879-80,  W.  Beal; 
1881-3,  J.  D.  Freed;    1884-5,  S.  H.  Snell;    1886-8,  W.  L.  Marton;    1889,  E.  C. 

B.  Castle,  L.  O.  Burtner,  D.  A.  Barshinger,  M.  L.  Mayselles,  D.  R.  Bovey,  C  W. 
Stinespring,  J.  W.  Owen,  J.  E.  B.  Rice,  M.  J.  Heberly,  C.  B.  McDaniel,  Charles 
H.  Clark  and  G.  I.  Rider. 

MOUNT  VERNON  CHURCH 

This  church,  located  at  Daysville,  Maryland,  is  a  frame  chapel,  25  x  40 
feet,  built  during  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  A.  M.  Evers,  and  dedicated  by  Bishop 
Edwards  April  5,  1875.  It  cost  $2,000.  Messrs.  Secrist,  Bastion  and  Long 
w^ere  prominent  in  the  work.  The  pastors  who  served  "Georgetown  Chapel" 
since  1875  served  this  church  also. 

WELLER'S  CHURCH 

This  historic  church  is  located  in  Thurmont,  Frederick  County,  Maryland. 
The  town  was  laid  out  in  1751,  and  lies  at  the  base  of  the  Catoctin  Mountain. 
Jacob  Weller  w^as  the  first  settler  on  the  site  of  the  present  town,  which  con- 
tains about  two  thousand  people.  Mr.  Weller,  the  first  settler,  -was  a  teamster 
in  the  Revolutionary  war.  His  son,  Jacob  Weller,  Jr.,  built  the  first  hotel  in 
the  place  in  1800.  It  is  now  called  the  "Gilbert  House."  In  181  1  Mr.  Weller 
started  an  extensive  edge-tool  manufactory,  the  first  establishment  of  the  kind 
south  of  New  York.  It  was  located  on  and  run  by  a  small  stream  called 
Fishing  Creek,  and  was  operated  as  a  "tilt-hammer  forge."  Every  morning 
Mr.  Weller  started  his  tilt-hammer  long  before  daylight,  and  thus  woke  the 
w^hole  neighborhood  with  the  fearful  noise.  He  made  mill-irons,  pump- 
augers,  chisels  and  axes,  which  were  shipped  chiefly  to  the  Southern  States 
and  the  West  Indies.  Moreover,  the  first  lucifer  matches  made  in  America 
vs^ere  manufactured  by  Mr.  Weller  and  his  brother,  Joseph  Weller,  in  this 
little  mountain  village  in  1825.  The  matches  were  first  made  into  blocks  and 
subdivided,  first  by  hand  and  then  by  machinery,  and  then  dipped,  one  by 
one,  into  the  brimstone  mixture.  The  matches  sold  for  twenty-five  cents  a 
box,  which  included  a  piece  of  sandpaper  on  which  to  ignite  them.  Twice 
the  factory  was  burned  down. 

Now,  these  enterprising  Wellers  vv^ere  converted  under  the  ministry  of 
Otterbein  and  his  associates  in  the  Gospel,  and  became  members  of  the  United 


UNITED    BRETHREN    CHURCH 


247 


Weller's  Church 


Oid    Ma  tell  Hou^e 


Old  Match  House 


248  LANDMARK     HISTORY     OF    THE 

Brethren  Church  and  leaders  of  rehgious  thought  and  feehng  in  the  commu- 
nity. They  were  substantial  men  in  matters  of  religion,  and  could  pray  and 
preach  the  Gospel  and  win  souls  as  well  as  they  could  make  matches,  and 
axes,  and  millstones  and  augers. 

This  church  was  erected  in  1831,  when  Mr.  Jacob  Weller,  son  of  the  first 
settler,  the  first  lucifer  match-maker  on  the  continent,  drew  up  and  circulated 
the  following  paper  concerning  the  church  in  Thurmont,  1  have  the  original 
paper  before  me,  signed  and  sealed  by  all  the  trustees,  as  follows: 

December  II,  1831. 

Whereas,  we  whose  names  are  underwritten,  do  think  and  believe  it  our  duty 
to  our  God,  our  posterity  and  our  fellow-citizens,  to  build  and  establish  a  house  of 
worship  in  Mechanicstow^n,  Maryland,  for  the  use  and  purposes  of  the  United 
Brethren  in  Christ,  and  also  guaranteeing  privileges  to  ministers  of  other  persuasions 
verbose  piety  and  purity  of  doctrine  shall  commend  them  to  the  trustees,  if  there  be 
no  appointment  previous  to  the  application.  Likewise  there  w^ill  be  the  privilege 
of  burying  at  the  meeting  house  for  all  subscribers  and  successors.  Moreover, 
this  meeting  house  shall  forthw^ith  be  kno\vn  by  the  appellation  of  "Weller's 
Church''  in  the  name  of  God  the  Father,  Son  and  Holy  Ghost.  Praying  that  the 
Lord  may  here  record  his  name,  and  consecrate  this  building  unto  himself,  sancti- 
fying the  w^orshipers  here  and  elsev^rhere  unto  himself,  in  time  and  in  eternity, 
through  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  to  whom  be  glory  forever  and  ever.     Amen. 

JACOB  WELLER,  B.S.  (Blacksmith) 
GEORGE  STOKES 
HENRY  HEMP 
FREDERICK  RIDER 
JACOB  MARTIN 


The  above  paper  vs^as  the  beginning  of  the  United  Brethren  Church  in 
Thurmont,  which  was  erected  in  1831,  and  dedicated  the  same  year  on  the 
II  th  of  December.  It  w^as  built  on  ground  donated  by  Jacob  Weller,  w^ho 
was  born  in  Mechanicstow^n  (now  Thurmont)  January  25,  I  775,  and  died 
May  6,  1 846.  He  w^as  the  son  of  Jacob  Weller,  Sr.,  who  came  from  Berks 
County  in  1850,  w^hen  the  town  site  w^as  a  forest.  Here  the  elder  Weller 
built  a  log  house,  w^hich  he  opened  for  the  preaching  of  the  Gospel  by  Otter- 
bein  and  his  associates,  and  himself  became  the  leader  of  religious  life  and 
labor  in  the  community.  His  home,  w^hich  is  still  standing,  was  a  regular 
preaching  place  till  the  church  was  built  in  1831.  The  time  for  preaching 
w^as  announced  by  the  blow^ing  of  a  horn.  Jacob  Weller,  Sr.,  w^as  a  teamster 
in  the  Revolutionary  war.  His  son  Jacob  built  the  first  hotel  in  Mechanics- 
town,  the  Gilbert  House,  which  is  still  standing. 

In  addition  to  the  original  trustees  already  named,  other  prominent  mem- 
bers of  this  church  were  Jacob  Perry,  David  Eyler,  Jacob  Demuth,  Perry  Ey- 
ler,  Joshua  Stokes,  James  W.  Baltzell  and  Rev.  L.  W.  Martin.  Previous  to 
1870  the  pastors   named   for  the  church  at  Middletown  (Baulus  Chapel)  also 


UNITED    BRETHREN    CHURCH  249 

served  this  church,  which  was  then  a  part  of  the  original  circuit.  Since  1870 
some  of  the  pastors  were  J.  K.  Nelson,  W.  O.  Smith,  J.  B.  Funk,  C.  M.  Hott, 
E.  P.  Funk,  C.  I.  B.  Brane,  S.  K.  Wine.  W.  R.  Berry,  W.  L.  Martin,  G.  J.  Rou- 
dabush,  W.  E.  Dougherty,  E.  H.  Free  and  G.  1.  Rider.  Previous  to  1872  the 
ministers  named  in  connection  with  the  Baulus  Chapel,  Middletown,  up  to 
that  date,  also  served  Weller's  Church,  which  w^as  on  Frederick  Circuit  then. 
This  was  the  home  church  of  Rev.  Isaiah  Baltzell. 


DODGE  CHAPEL 

This  church,  which  is  located  in  Eyler's  Valley,  is  a  stone  church  erected 
about  the  beginning  of  the  Civil  war.  It  was  originally  called  Eyler's  Valley 
Church,  but  w^as  named  later  on  for  Mrs.  Dodge,  a  w^ealthy  member,  who 
made  a  bequest  to  its  board  of  trustees.  Benjamin  Eyler,  Joshua  Warenfeltz, 
Henty  Miller,  Charles  Eyler  and  Mrs.  Harvey  Winters  were  identified  with 
the  Dodge  Chapel.     Its  pastors  were  the  same  as  those  of  Weller's  Church. 


OTTERBEIN  CHAPEL 

This  church  is  located  in  Harbaugh's  Valley,  and  v^as  erected  in  1  849, 
for  the  accommodation  of  the  society  that  worshiped  in  the  Yost  Harbaugh 
home  near  by.  The  valley  was  named  after  the  Harbaugh  family,  by  whom 
it  was  settled.  Yost  Harbaugh  was  a  pioneer  United  Brethren,  and  was  re- 
lated to  the  Rev.  Henry  Harbaugh,  D.D.,  an  eminent  divine  of  the  Reformed 
Church.  So,  after  worshiping  in  the  Harbaugh  home  for  many  years,  the 
little  congregation  transferred  its  services  to  the  new  chapel.  Daniel  Har- 
baugh, son  of  Yost  Harbaugh,  Lewis  Wertenbaker,  Samuel  Kline  and  Lemuel 
Eby  were  officers  of  this  church.  At  this  church,  during  a  session  of  the 
quarterly  conference,  Dr.  C.  I.  B.  Brane  received  license  to  preach.  Rev.  H, 
A.  Bovey  w^as  the  presiding  elder. 

SABILLASVILLE  CHURCH 

This  house  of  worship  is  located  in  Sabillasville,  and  was  built  in  1872. 
The  charter  members  came  from  Otterbein  Chapel,  just  a  mile  down  the 
valley.  Some  of  them  were  :  David  F.  Willar,  Cornelius  Willar,  Samuel  More- 
head,  Lemuel  Eby  and  Mrs.  Hannah  Arnsperger.  It  is  a  frame  structure 
30  X  40  feet,  with  graveyard  attached. 

DEERFIELD  CHURCH 

This  chapel  was  erected  by  the  United  Brethren  about  1878.  It  is  a  frame 
house.  Cyrus  Lantz,  James  L.  Willar  and  S.  W.  Harbaugh  were  the  officers. 
The  membership  is  thirty. 


250  LANDMARKHISTORY 


SALEM  CHURCH 

This  church  is  located  at  Wolf  sville,  Maryland.  In  this  picturesque  village, 
nestling  among  the  mountains,  John  Hoover,  Sr.,  was  born  January  20,  1  777. 
Amid  these  scenes  and  associations  he  grew  to  manhood,  embraced  the 
Christian  religion  and  joined  the  United  Brethren  Church,  in  w^hose  fellov^ship 
he  lived  and  labored  till  June,  1861,  when  he  died  in  his  eighty-fourth  year. 
About  the  beginning  of  the  century  he  married  Miss  Susanna  Harshman,  and 
straightway  his  home,  a  stone  structure  still  standing,  became  a  regular  preach- 
ing place.  Some  years  later,  in  1 842,  the  stone  church  was  built  in  Wolfs- 
ville,  and  has  enjoyed  the  services  of  regularly  appointed  pastors  from  that 
day  to  this.  The  same  ministers  who  served  Myersville  church  also  served 
the  Wolfsville  congregation  till  1 906,  when  F.  L.  Stine  became  the  pastor ;  in 
1907,  Charles  H.  Clark;  1908,  W.  L.  Martin.  The  early  members  were  :  John 
Hoover,  Sr.,  Elizabeth  Hoover,  John  Hoover,  Jr.,  Susanna  Hoover,  Jacob 
Hoover,    Mary    Hoover,   the    Millers,    Riders,   Coats,    Dealers,    Eckstines    and 


P 


asses. 


MOUNT  OLIVET  CHURCH 

This  church  is  located  at  Pleasant  Walk.  About  one  mile  northwest  of 
Myersville,  at  the  upper  end  of  the  Middletown  Valley,  a  union  church  was 
built  of  logs  about  the  year  1775.  The  United  Brethren  people  bought  that 
church  and  worshiped  in  it  till  they  were  practically  driven  out  by  the  very 
people  from  whom  they  had  purchased  the  property,  perhaps  in  1852,  when 
they  built  a  more  comfortable  and  commodious  brick  church  in  Myersville. 
The  old  church  was  well  and  widely  known  as  "Jerusalem  Chapel,"  and  many 
fine  meetings  were  held  there  by  the  United  Brethren,  whose  membership 
w^as  large  and  influential.  Some  of  them  were  :  Jacob  Rhoads,  Jacob  Doub, 
Jacob  Toms  (many  Jacobs,  you  see),  Abraham  Doub,  Valentine  Doub,  who 
married  Peter  Kemp's  daughter.  Conferences  and  councils  and  evangelistic 
meetings  of  great  importance  took  place  in  Jerusalem  Chapel.  Mount  Olivet 
Church,  or  "Pleasant  Walk,"  as  it  is  commonly  called,  stands  within  a  stone's 
throw  of  the  site  of  the  old  chapel,  and  includes  in  its  membership  the  people 
of  that  neighborhood. 


MOUNT  ZION  CHURCH 

This  house  of  worship  is  located  at  Myersville.  It  was  built  in  1852,  and 
■dedicated  by  Bishop  Glossbrenner  in  that  year.  On  the  1  7th  of  December, 
1  890,  it  was  blown  down  by  a  storm.  Steps  were  straightway  taken  for  the 
erection  of  a  new  church,  which  was  completed  in  1 892,  and  dedicated  by 
Bishop  Kephart  in  May  of  that  year.  This  brick  church  is  beautifully  situated 
at  the  upper  end  of  the  village,  is  of  modern  type  and  quite  large   and  con- 


UNITED    BRETHREN    CHURCH 


251 


venient.  Moreover,  its  membership  is  large  and  influential,  including  many 
of  the  leading  people  of  the  town  and  community,  among  whom  are  D. 
V.  Harp,  Dawson  Flook,  Charles  Eldridge,  Rev.  Cyrus  F.  Flook  and  wife, 
Mrs.  Elmer  Smith,  Mrs.  Bettie  Horine,  and  others  equally  useful. 

MOUNT  CARMEL  CHURCH 

This  chapel,  located  at  Garfield,  Maryland,  was  built  and  dedicated  in 
May,  1902,  under  the  pastoral  supervision  of  Rev.  1.  Loval,  and  is  several 
miles  north  of  Wolfsville,  Maryland.  The  congregation  belongs  to  the  Wolfs- 
ville  charge,  and  is  served  by  Rev.  W.  L.  Martin.  The  charter  members  were : 
Isaac  Lovell,  John  W.  Kelbaugh,  George  E.  Lovell,  John  D.  Swope,  Adam  W. 
Toms,  Amanda  J.  Lovell,  Mary  E.  Swope,  Carrie  V.  Kelbaugh.  The  first  five 
named  above  were  the  trustees.  The  church  is  frame,  30  x  40  feet,  and  cost 
$1,300.00. 


REV.    JOHN    HERSHEY    AND    FAMILY 

The    Hershey  family  has   been   prominent   in  the   history  of   the   United 
Brethren  in  Christ  from  the  time  it  was  organized  until  now.  Rev.  John  Her- 
shey being   one   of  its  original  founders. 
Indeed,  ten  or  fifteen  years  before  it  was 
formally  organized  in  1  800,  he  was  asso- 
ciated w^ith  Otterbein,  Newcomer,   Geet- 
ing  and  Kemp  in  laying  the  foundation 
of  the  Church,  his  home,   the  stone  part 
as  show^n  in  the  picture  herewith  given, 
being  one  of  the  first  preaching  places. 
He   w^as  a   native   of    Pennsylvania,   but 
moved  to  Washington  County,  Maryland, 
about  the  middle  of  the  eighteenth  cen- 
tury, and  there  secured  a  farm  and  built  """"^  °f  ^^''  J°^"  Hershey,  Hagerstown 
himself  a  home  on  Beaver  Creek,  about  seven  miles  east  of  Hagerstown.     He 
and  Newcomer  lived  within  a  mile  of  each  other. 

Denominationally  speaking,  he  w^as  originally  of  Mennonite  extraction. 
Tradition  says  he  was  intellectually  strong,  an  able  preacher,  and  religiously 
influential.  Lawrence  says  (page  378),  "Brother  John  Hershey  departed  this 
life  March  the  4th,  181  I ,"  which  1  think,  is  a  mistake  of  one  month  in  time. 
Newcomer  says  in  his  "Journal"  (page  195),  "April  5th.  This  day  Brother 
John  Hershey  was  buried."  If  I  remember  correctly,  his  granddaughter.  Miss 
Savilla  Hershey,  told  me  that  he  died  a  little  after  midnight,  which  was  prob- 
ably the  early  morning  of  April  4,  1811,  and  was  buried  the  next  day — about 
one  and  a  half  later.  He  and  his  wife  sweetly  sleep  side  by-side  in  Fahrney's 
graveyard,  a   mile  or  two  from  his  home.     The  stone  part  of  the  house  seen 


252 


LANDMARK    HISTORY    OF    THE 


in  cut  shows  the  original  house  built  by  Brother  Hershey ;  but  the  brick  part, 
which  takes  the  place  of  an  original  log  structure,  has  been  added  in  the  last 
fifty  years. 

So  far  as  I   know.  Rev.  John   Hershey  had   five  sons  and  two  daughters. 

One  son,  Christian,  I  think,  owned  and 
occupied  the  farm  now  possessed  by 
Mrs.  Ezra  Burtner,  near  Brethedsville, 
Maryland.  He  belonged  to  the  River 
Brethren,  but  worshiped  and  labored 
with  the  United  Brethren.  Another  son, 
David,  moved  to  Montgomery  County, 
Maryland,  where  he  lived  and  died. 
John  Hershey,  Jr.,  lived  in  Hagerstown, 
Maryland,  where  he  became  prominent 
and  successful  in  business,  having  a  large 
tanning  establishment,  which  was  his 
Graves  of  Rev.  John  Hershey  and  Wite  trade.     He  was  oue  of  the  Original  foun- 

ders  of  the  old  Hagerstown  Bank,  still  one  of  the  solid  financial  institutions 
of  that  city,  of  which  he  was  an  early  moderator  (mayor)  and  in  1 824,  he 
was  made  chairman  of  a  committee  of  one  hundred  to  welcome  to  Hagers- 
town General  LaFayettee,  who  was  then  on  a  visit  to  America.  He  was  also 
the  leading  spirit  in  founding  our  first  society  in  that  city — St.  Paul's  United 
Brethren  Church,  of  which  the  Rev.  A.  B.  Statton  is  the  faithful  and  efficient 
pastor.  Moreover,  he  was  the  first  treasurer  of  the  ''Benevolent  Society  of  the 
United  Brethren  in  Christ, "  authorized 
by  the  General  Conference,  and  organ- 
ized in  Hagerstown  on  May  28,  1822, 
which  was  practically  a  preachers'  aid 
society.  The  original  constitution,  printed 
in  Hagerstown,  in  1822,  and  on  coarse, 
yellowish  paper,  German  on  one  side 
and  English  on  the  other,  is  preserved. 
Pictures  of  Brother  Hershey,  and  of  his 
father's  home,  and  the  old  barn  in  which 
great  meetings  w^ere  held  a  century  ago,  are  given  herewith. 

John  Hershey  vv^as  married  to  Barbara  Hershey,  daugher  of 
Hershey,  a  cousin  of  his,  by  Father  Adam  Geeting,  in  1807.  They  lived 
happily  together  for  nearly  a  half  century,  when,  on  August  10,  1854,  John 
Hershey  died,  and  the  Herald  and  Torch  of  the  town  had  this  to  say  concern- 
ing him :  "For  many  years  an  exemplary  member  of  the  Church  of  the  United 
Brethren  in  Christ,  and  was  imbued  with  the  spirit  of  Christianity.  Whilst  he 
walked  our  streets  with  enfeebled  footsteps,  he  retained  his  faculties  until 
stricken  by  a  paralytic  stroke  three  days  previous  to  his  death.  Although  from 
the  peculiar  disease  with  which  he  was  attacked  his  tongue  was  silent,  yet  his 
countenance  portrayed  that  which  he  was  unable  to  express,  that  all  was  peace 


Isaac  Hershey's  Home 


UNITED    BRETHREN    CHURCH 


253 


ggtm^" 


Rev,  John  Hershey 


within."     The   funeral    services   were   conducted  by  Bishop  Russell  and  Rev. 

Mr.  Bachtel. 

His  widow^,  a  most  precious  wife,    mother,  and  Christian,  died  November 

23,    1875,    aged    eighty-four   years, 

eleven  months,  and  nineteen  days. 

She    became    a    member     of      the 

United   Brethren   Church   in  1 809, 

and   remained    true   to    Christ   and 

the  Church   to   the    end,  when   she 

doubtless  received  a  crown  of  glory. 
Miss  Savilla  often  told  me  how^ 

she  used   to   sweep  the  little  brick 

church    on    Franklin     and    Locust 

Streets,  w^here  a  line  modern  struc- 
ture now^  stands,   and  make  fire   in 

the  old  "ten  plate"  stove  with  which 

the  chapel  was  heated.   Her  brother, 

Joseph    A.   Hershey,  told  me  how 

his  grandfather.  Rev.  John  Hershey, 

opposed  slavery,  although  he  owned 

a    number    himself,    but    set  some 

free  and   arranged   for   the   liberty 

of  the  balance,  and  requested    the 

children  on  his  death-bed  to  free  them  all.     When  Joseph  was  a  boy  and  the 

United  Brethren  preachers  came  to  his  father's  home,  he  was  sent  to   tell   the 

colored  boy,  w^ho 
belonged  to  his 
father,  to  come  and 
put  the  preacher's 
horse  aw^ay. 

The  influence  of 
the  Hershey  family 
in  the  Church  of 
the  United  Breth- 
ren in  Christ,  es- 
pecially in  and 
around  Hagers- 
town,  where  they 
mainly  lived  and 
labored,  has  been 
and    still    is    most 

precious,  from    first  to  last.     I  have  known  many  of  Rev.  John  Hershey's  de- 

scendents,  but  I  never  knew  one  who  w^as  not  a  credit  to  their  godly  sire  and 

the  Master  whom  he  served,  as  well  as  to  the  Church  of  their  choice,  and  the 

community  in  which  they  lived.     Thank  God  for  such  pure,  precious  people  ! 


John  Hershey's   Barn 


CHAPTER    I  V 


SOME     PIONEER    CHURCH    SCHOOLS 


H  E  fact  that  the  United  Brethren  Church  now  owns  and 
operates  fourteen  institutions  of  learning  in  the  various 
sections  of  the  country,  including  a  theological  seminary  in 
Ohio  and  an  academy  on  the  west  coast  of  Africa,  is  a  pleas- 
ing illustration  of  the  educational  interest  and  enterprise  of 
the  Church.  This  significant  achievement  in  the  course  of 
a  century  is  all  the  more  remarkable  and  gratifying  when  we  reflect  that  the 
life  of  the  Church  found  its  earliest  embodiment  in  the  thought  and  feeling  of 
a  thoroughly  rustic  class  of  people,  whose  environment  afforded  no  inspiration 
to  educational  sentiment  and  very  meager  facilities  for  the  acquisition  of 
learning. 

Moreover,  running  through  the  pioneer  body  of  our  membership  there 
w^as  a  bias,  not  against  education  or  learning,  but  in  opposition  to  a  profession- 
ally trained  ministry,  simply  because  some  of  its  representatives  took  no  interest 
in  the  poor  and  ignorant  classes,  while  others  lacked  spiritual  concern  for  the 
w^elfare  of  souls,  or  become  indifferent  to  the  obligations  of  a  holy  life.  For 
instance,  when  the  Allegheny  Conference  established  our  first  institution  of 
learning  at  Mt.  Pleasant,  Pa.,  it  put  upon  record  a  resolution  of  censure  upon 
any  member  w^ho  should  hinder  the  collection  of  funds  by  opposing  the 
College  movement.  That  action  revealed  the  existence  of  two  facts — the 
presence  of  a  slight  but  silent  influence  against  the  college  movement,  and  a 
fixed  purpose  on  the  part  of  the  Conference  to  suppress  or  destroy  it.  The 
silent  opposition  uncovered  by  the  action  of  the  Conference  w^as  not  to  the 
cause  of  education,  but  against  the  establishment  of  "preacher  factories"  as  col- 
leges were  called  by  some  who  clearly  saw  and  deeply  felt  the  weakness  and 
inefficiency  of  a  merely  intellectually  trained  ministry.  In  its  righteous  recoil 
from  excessive  trust  in  theological  training,  which  makes  the  ministry  a  mere 
"profession"  instead  of  a  divine  calling,  the  pendulum  of  feeling  swung  to  the 
other  extreme  and  thereby  registered,  not  an  aversion  to  education,  but  a  fail- 
ure to  adequately  estimate  its  supplemental  value  to  the  Spirit's  call  and  equip- 
ment. Many  pioneer  ministers,  able  and  eloquent  expounders  of  the  Word, 
including  those  of  scholarly  attainments,  feared  the  substitution  of  intellectual 
equipment  for  the    life   and   power   of  the  Holy  Ghost.     They  all  recognized 


UNITED    BRETHREN     CHURCH 


255 


Mount  Pleasant  Collei 


and  protected  the  right  of  uneducated    men   to   enter  the  ministry  when  they 

felt  divinely  called  to  do  so,  but  urged  all 
such  to  acquire  intellectual  knowledge  by 
private  study,  and  otherwise. 

MOUNT  PLEASANT  COLLEGE 

Our  first  "Churchschool"  for  higher  ed- 
ucation was  established  at  Mount  Pleasant, 
Pa.,  by  the  Allegheny  Conference  in  1847. 
it  was  called  Mount  Pleasant  College,  and 
enjoyed  a  fair  degree  of  prosperity  for  a 
period  of  ten  years,  w^hen  its  life  and  influ- 
ence became  absorbed  in  a  consolidation 
with  Otterbein  University,  Westerville,  Ohio. 
In  a  special  sense  this  school  w^as  the 
child  of  the  Pennsylvania  Germans,  whose  representatives  and  descendants 
penetrated  the  western  wilds  of  the  state,  and  finally  invested  their  prayers 
and  money  in  Mount  Pleasant  College,  whose  hidden  life  still  enjoys  their 
material  and  spiritual  support.  The  first  catalog  of  that  school  shows  an  at- 
tendance of  one  hundred  and  ten  students— seventy-four  gentlemen  and 
thirty-six  ladies — who  were  helped  to  a 
knowledge  of  the  Latin  and  Greek  lan- 
guages and  literature  by  Prof.  William  R 
Griffith,  A.M.,  and  led  through  the  intricate 
mazes  of  mathematics  and  natural  science 
by  Prof.  S.  S.  Dillman.  Miss  Harriet  F 
Marcy  had  charge  of  the  ladies  department. 
Rev.  J.  L.  Holmes,  Rev.  J.  B.  Ressler,  David 
Keister,  David  S.  Cherry  and  Samuel  Zuck, 
father  of  Rev.  W.  J.  Zuck,  D.D.,  a  splen- 
did teacher  and  preacher,  constituted  the 
executive  committee  of  the  College.     They 

W^ere   all   strong   men   in    every   high   sense   of         Conrad  Keisters  Home,  Mount  Pleasant.  Pa. 

the  w^ord  ;  and  the  latter  three  were  ideal  representatives  of  a  noble  class  of 
laymen,  w^hose  wisdom  and  consecration  prevented  disintegration  through  the 
transitional  period  of  our  church-life,  when  the  English  language  vv^as  substi- 
tuted for  the  German,  and  inspired  an  educational  campaign  w^hich  resulted 
in  the  establishment  of  Mount  Pleasant  College,  whose  pulse  still  beats  in  the 
life  of  Otterbein  University. 


COTTAGE  HILL  COLLEGE 


In  1866  the  educational  pulse  of  our  Pennsylvania  people  began  to  beat 
with  higher  aims  and  larger  purposes.  This  awakening  resulted  in  the  found- 
ing of  two   more    schools— Cottage  Hill    College,   at  York,  Pa.,   and  Lebanon 


256 


LANDMARK    HISTORY    OF    THE 


Valley  College,  at  Annville.  "Cottage  Hill"  was  for  young  ladies  exclusively. 
It  was  originally  established  by  Rev.  John  F.  Hey,  from  whom  it  was  pur- 
chased by  Bishop  Erb,  Christian  Eberly,  and  Rev.  Daniel  Eberly,  D.D.  The 
latter  became  president  of  the  school,  and  finally  bought  out  the  Erb  and 
Eberly  interests  and  became  its  sole  owner.  Under  Dr.  Eberly's  management 
the  school  enjoyed  six  prosperous  years  and  sent  out  five  classes  of  graduates, 
plus  many  more  whom  the  college  placed  in  the  line  of  promotion  to  the  same 
goal.  Its  student  body  was  made  up  of  representatives  of  many  excellent 
families,  not  only  of  the  United  Brethren  Church,  from  which  its  patronage 
mainly  came,  but  also  of  other  denominations,  both  in  Pennsylvania  and  in 
Maryland.     The  buildings  were  beautifully  located   in  a  campus  of  nine  acres 

on  the  Ccdorus  Creek.  The 


-•^"TS^*^     ,  IB  'f 


.>?V 


iv 
^ 


tft" 


^^ 


K^ 


Cottage  Hill  College,  York,  Pa. 


grounds  w^ere  well  laid  out 
and  very  attractively  orna- 
mented with  shade  trees 
and  shrubbery,  as  you  see 
by  the  accompanying  cut, 
which  is  a  good  one. 

In  I  872  Cottage  Hill  was 
sold  to  the  Episcopal 
Church.  About  this  time 
Dr.  Eberly,  through  w^hose 
influence  and  efforts  it  had 
been  brought  under  United 
Brethren  auspices,  was  called  to  the  presidency  of  Otterbein  University  at 
Westerville,  Ohio.  For  a  period  of  forty  years  Dr.  Eberly  was  prominently 
associated  with  the  educational  work  of  the  Church.  He  was  a  scholarly 
man,  an  able  preacher,  and  one  of  our  best  instructors.  He  was  the  chaplain 
of  the  popular  Eighth  Regiment  National  Guard  of  Pennsylvania  and  ranking 
chaplain  of  the  State. 

At  this  juncture  of  our  educational  work,  when  Cottage  Hill  passed  into 
the  hands  of  another  denomination,  Lebanon  Valley  College  entered  upon 
the  enjoyment  of  a  larger  patronage  and  a  more  unified  co-operation.  Many 
patrons  and  pupils  transferred  their  interest  and  attendance  from  York  to 
Annville,  where  our  educational  interest  is  now  materially  embodied  in  six 
fine  buildings,  five  of  which  are  fresh  from  the  hands  of  the  architect,  and 
constitute  a  lovely  setting  to  the  handsome  campus.  Aside  from  the  self-sacri- 
ficing efforts  of  those  who  founded  the  institution,  and  hundreds  of  others 
vvrho  heroically  sustained  it  from  that  day  to  this,  Prof.  E.  Benjamin  Bierman, 
who  patiently  and  skillfully  perpetuated  its  life  through  a  financial  crisis,  and 
Dr.  H.  U.  Roop,  whose  toil  and  tact  brought  a  large  student-body  to  the  class 
rooms  and  new  buildings  to  the  grounds,  deserve  grateful  recognition.  I  simply 
speak  the  truth  w^hen  1  say  that  this  school  has  accomplished  a  world  of  good ; 
and  the  prospect  is  that,  w^ith  its  splendid  student  body,  able  corps  of  teachers, 
fine  campus  and  buildings,    worth   probably  half  a   million   dollars,   its   future 


UNITED  BRETHREN  CHURCH 


257 


life  and  labor  will  multiply  increasingly  the  splendid  achievements  of  the  past. 
Dr.  L.  Keister  is  the  president  and  he  is  making  good  in  every  way. 

In  tracing  the  educational  acts  and  instincts  of  our  people  w^e  must  finally 
repair  to  the  pioneer  period  of  their  existence,  when  there  was  no  organized 
expression  of  thought  or  feeling  on  the  subject,  except  as  it  appeared  in  the 
"community  school"  to  which  I  must  allude.  Previous  to  1847,  when  Mount 
Pleasant  College  was  established,  we  had  no  church  schools  for  higher  educa- 
tion ;  but  I  know  of  instances  in  Maryland  and  Pennsylvania  where  United 
Brethren,  being  numerous  and  influential  in  the  neighborhood,  built  houses 
for  divine  w^orship  and  secular  education  combined.  That  was  the  case  at 
the  historic  Antietam  appointment  where  the  pastor.  Rev.  George  A.  Geeting, 
preached  the  gospel  on  Sunday  and  taught  school  through  the  week.  Of 
course,  the  house  w^as  a  humble  one.  It  was  the  first  church  and  the  y?rs/  school 
building  that  the  United  Brethren  erected  ;  and  in  its  use  they  wisely  united 
the  twin  powers  of   reason   and   righteousness — a  splendid  and  indispensable 

combination. 

ROCKY  SPRING  SCHOOLHOUSE 

When  the  society  that  worshiped  at  Valentine  Doub's,  where  the  general 
church  was  organized  in  1800,  transferred  its  services  to  Rocky  Spring  School- 
house,  it  entered  upon  the  occupancy  of  a  stone  structure  that  was  built  for 
school  and  sanctuary 
purposes.  For  more 
than  thirty  years  it 
served  those  tv/o  ends 
but  it  is  now^  used  for 
educational  purposes 
exclusively.  The 
house  w^asbuilt  largely 
through  the  influence 
of  the  Church,  w^hose 
memberswere  people 
of  prominence  in  the 
community.  Here  the 
writer  worshiped  on 
Sunday  and  wrestled 
with  "the  three  R's', 
during  the  week,  re- 
ceiving nutriment  for 
head  and  heart,  plus 
an  occasional  flogging.  Of  course,  there  is  a  wide  difference  between 
temporal  and  eternal  things,  but  they  were  strangely  mixed  and  painfully 
applied  in  my  experiences  in  that  stone  schoolhouse.  The  man  who  inspired 
my  soul  on  Sunday  "tanned  my  hide"  on  Monday.  The  preacher  was  also 
the  teacher,  you  see.  That  strange  combination  of  gospel  grace  and  "physical 
culture"  I  well  remember.     I    enjoyed   the   one   and   endured  the  other.     But, 


Rocky  Spring  Schoolhouse 


258 


LANDMARK    HISTORY    OF    THE 


aside  from  the  flogging  I  received  in  that  old  schoolhouse,  my  "physical  cul- 
ture" was  not  acquired  in  the  "gym"  nor  on  the  "horizontal  bar,"  but  in  all  sorts 
of  useful  "tricks "  on  the  farm.  I  had  all  the  "exercise"  I  needed  and  vastly 
more  than  I  v^anted.     1  went  to  bed  earl})  and  got  up  earlier. 

By  the  way,  how  I  love  that  old  schoolhouse.  It  recalls  those  exquisitely 
bright  days  of  childhood,  including  the  boys  and  girls  with  w^hom  I  played 
forty  years  ago.  It  is  the  embodiment  of  some  of  the  sweetest  memiories  of 
my  life,  secular,  social  and  religious.  In  that  old  schoolhouse  I  was  converted. 
Within  those  w^alls,  one  bright  Sunday  morning,  I  was  formally  revcived  into 
the  Church.  There  I  received  my  first  communion.  How  1  long  to  see  my  old 
pastors,  and  teachers,  and  schoolmates.  Indeed,  /  expect  to  meet  them  again. 
Some  sweet  day  we  shall  receive  our  last  call  and  highest  assignment  in  the 
range  of  life  to  which  we  are  exalted  through  faith  in  Jesus.  Then  w^e  shall 
move  out  of  the  earthly  house  of  this  tabernacle  into  an  over-vestment  of 
immortality  closely  resembling  the  "glorious"  body  of  our  risen  Lord.  Then 
I  shall  meet  and  greet  them  again.     Blessed  prospect. 


I  dreamed  last  night  of  a  far-away  scene — 
I  was  once  more  a  boy  on  the  old  village 

green. 
At  play  with  the  lassies  and  lads  as  of  yore. 
The  same  games  w^e  played  there,  two-score 

years  and  more. 


AN  IMMORTAL  DREAM 

And  now  I  oft  sit  at  the  close  of  the  day. 
Note  my  locks  in  the  mirror  are  coloring  gray; 
Call  the  names  of  the  boys  and  the  girls,  and 

they  seem 
All  about  me  once  more  on  the  old  village 

green. 


I  saw  them  again  in  my  dreaming  last  night, 
Took  part  in  the  friction,  the  fun  and  thefight, 
And  lost  every  button,  from  bottom   to  top, 
At  cornerball  play  on  the  old  corner  lot, 

My  "gallusses"  gone,  and  gone  my  hat  crown. 
My  bare  feet  bedecked  with  mud  of  the  town, 
And  streamlets  of  "sweat"  down  my  face  cut 

their  way 
Through  patches  of  dirt  I'd  collected  at  play. 


From  the  rocky  girt  coast  of  the  far-off  North- 
land, 

To  where  the  sea  sobs  on  the  flowery  strand. 

They've  scattered  today,  never  more  to  be 
seen 

All  at  play  once  again  on  the  old  village  green. 

On  war's  bloody  field,  where  the  battle  waxed 

hot. 
Some  sleep  where  they  fell — none  but  God 

knows  the  spot — 
Some  rest  by  the  Nanticoke's  swift-flowing 

side, 
A  few  are  still  stemming  life's   strenuous  tide. 


1  keep  dreaming  on  with  my   eyes  open  wide 
While  backw^ard  comes  sailing  o'er  memory's 

tide 
The  dearest  of  fellows  and  girls  ever  seen, 
The  kids  I  played  with  on  the  old  village 

green. 

The  schoolhouse,  the  teacher,  the  hand,  seats  'Tis  more  than  a  dream,  and  I  smile,  for  1 

and  all  feel 

The  battle-scarred  frescoers  that  caught  the  The  vision  that  haunts  me  will  some  day  be 

spitball,  real ; 

The  ink-adorned  desks,  with  the  splashes  of  And  comrades  long  parted  will  somewhere 

black,  convene 

The  art  views  we  drew  on  the  spelling  books  Some  time,  all  together,  on  God  s  fadeless 

back.  green.  D.  H.  Kenney, 


UNITED    BRETHREN    CHURCH 


259 


RETREAT  SCHOOLHOUSE 

Another  "community  school"  estabUshed  under  the  auspices  of  the  Church 
stood  on  the  Monodacy,  near 
Frederick  City,  Md,  It  was 
buih  about  1830  and  was 
called  "Retreat  Schoolhouse.  " 
\t  -was  located  at  the  entrance 
of  a  lovely  grove,  most  of 
which  the  woodman  has  failed 
to  spare.  Here  "Uncle  Peter 
Kemp,"  as  he  was  affection- 
ately called,  taught  school  and 
conducted  prayer  and  class 
meetings  for  many  years. 
Joshua  Doub,  Jacob  Perry, 
John  Cronise,  Peter  Kemp 
and  the  Neidigs,  all  prominent  ^^''^^'  Schoolhouse 

people  in  the  community  and  members  of  the  church,  came  with  their  families 
and  neighbors  to  worship  in  this  place  ;  and  through  the  week  in  wintertime 
their  children  attended  school  here. 


CHAPTER    V 


ST.    PAUL'S    CHURCH,     HAGERSTOWN,    M  D 


T  was  about  the  close  of  the  war  of  the  Revolution  when  United 
Brethren  ministers  first  began  to  publish  the  gospel  of  peace  to 
the  inhabitants  of  Elizabeth  Town,  as  this  place  was  then  called, 
after  Elizabeth  Hager,  wife  of  Jonathan  Hager,  a  German,  who 
settled  on  lands  two  miles  west,  about  the  year  1  739,  when  this 
fair  and  fertile  valley  was  covered,  almost  from  mountain  to  mountain  with  a 
species  of  corylus,  or  hazel  bushes,  with  here  and  there  a  clump  of  trees  upon 
which  the  keen  blade  of  the  woodman's  ax  had  not  yet  been  tried,  and  through 
which  wild  beasts  and  wilder  Indians  roamed  at  will,  the  one  often  in  hot  pur- 
suit of  the  other.  The  site  of  the  town  was  laid  out  by  Mr.  Hager  in  1  762  ; 
and  29  years  after,  it  was  incorporated,  having  a  population  of  about  800. 
In  1814,  by  act  of  the  General  Assembly,  the  name  was  changed  and  the 
place  called  "Hagerstown,"  by  which  title  the  most  interesting  and  rapidly- 
growing  town  in  Western  Maryland  will  likely  be  known  as  long  as  it  exists. 
When  our  ministers  first  entered  this  community  the  war-whoop  of  the  savage 
had  but  recently  died  away  on  the  west  bank  of  the  Conococheague,  beyond 
which  the  only  sign  of  civilization  w^as  an  occasional  cabin,  erected  by  some 
venturesome  pioneer.  Then  the  moral  and  spiritual  condition  of  the  town 
w^as  almost  as  vv^ild  and  uncultivated  as  was  the  region  round  about.  The 
people  w^ere  exceedingly  fond  of  dancing,  drinking,  gambling,  horse-racing 
and  cock-fighting,  to  which  they  gave  much  time  and  attention,  manifesting 
a  decided  preference  for  the  Epicurean  philosophy.  In  speaking  of  the  reli- 
gious condition  of  the  town  in  1  793,  Rev.  Dr.  Schmucker,  pastor  of  St.  John's 
Lutheran  Church,  of  Hagerstown,  Maryland,  in  a  sermon  preached  in  1810, 
says:  'The  Presbyterians  w^ere  leisurely  waiting  God's  time,  while  the  Episco- 
pal minister  was  much  more  at  home  in  the  ball-room  and  on  the  turf  than  in 


UNITED    BRETHREN    CHURCH 


261 


the  pulpit,  and  only  the  Methodists  were  fighting  the  devil  with  any  vigor." 
By  "Methodists"  Dr.  Schmucher  evidently  meant  United  Brethren,  w^ho  were 
then  in  a  prosperous  and  growing  condition,  and  that  same  year  erected  a 
new  chapel  on  the  corner  of  Franklin  and  Locust  Streets,  while  the  Metho- 
dists still  worshiped  in  private  houses.  This  society  was  then  stronger  than 
the  Methodist,  and  included  in  its  membership  some  of  the  most  substantial 
citizens  of  the  place.  When  Bishop  Asbury  visited  Hagerstow^n  on  the  18th 
of  June,  1  808,  he  wrote  this  in  his  journal  concerning  us  :  "Our  German  breth- 
ren of  Otterbein  have  shouldered  us  out."  That  statement  implies  an  advan- 
tage that  supports  my  claim  as  to  the  relative  strength  of  the  tw^o  societies  at 
that  time.  In  explaining  who  w^ere  referred  to  by  Dr.  Schmucher  in  those 
words  of  commendation,  I  simply  desire  to  call  attention  to  the  helpful  influ- 
ence of  the  United  Brethren  Church  in  the  early  history  of  the  town,  when  it 
required  grace  and  grit  to  oppose  the  popular  evils  of  the  day. 

Rev.  Francis  Asbury  visited  Hagerstown  on  the  1  7th  of  July,  I  776,  and 
wrote  in  his 
journal  his 
impression 
of  the  mor- 
al c  o  n  d  i- 
tion  of  the 
place, 
which  isex- 
pressed  in 
these 
words : 
"When 
we  reach- 
ed Hagers- 
t  o  w  n  it 
seemed  as 
if  satan  was 
thee  hief 

ruler     here  ^''  '^^"'^  Church  and  Parsonage,  Hagerstown,  Maryland,  (See  Page  265) 

The  people  were  very  busy  drinking,  swearing,  drumming,  etc."  In  justice  to 
the  then  hilarious  citizens  of  this  community,  we  should  remember  that  Mr. 
Asbury  entered  the  place  only  thirteen  days  after  the  Declaration  of  Indepen- 
dence was  signed,  and  when  the  people  were  probably  celebrating  that  im- 
portant event.  The  grave  preacher,  mistaking  that  extraordinary  occasion 
for  a  common  occurrence,  naturally  concluded  that  the  devil  had  full  charge 
of  the  proceedings.  If  I  am  right  in  my  supposition  that  the  people  he  saw 
and  heard  were  celebrating  "Independence  Day,"  then  it  is  fair  to  presume 
that,  while  the  "drinking  and  swearing"  proceeded  under  the  sanction  and 
authority  of  satan,  the  "drumming"  was  only  an  innocent  exhibition  of  Amer- 
ican patriotism,  which  we  usually  display  in  a  similar  manner —  only  more  so. 


262 


LANDMARK    HISTORY    OF    THE 


If  the  sainted  bishop  could  once  more  take  his  stand  on  Cannon  Hill  in  July, 
substituting  the  4th  for  the  1  7th  of  the  month,  and  see  the  long  procession  of 
marshals  mounted  on  fiery  steeds  that  proudly  prance  in  front  of  the  inevitable 
"drum-major"  whose  curious  tricks  and  magnificent  maneuvers  regulate  the 
brass  band  and  charm  the  rustics;  military  companies  gaily  dressed  and  bear- 
ing arms  of  burnished  steel ;  the  fire  department  with  its  attractive  modern 
equipments  :  the  various  benevolent  orders  and  institutions  of  the  city  ;  hear 
and  see  the  profanity  and  wickedness  of  the  lawless  and  dissipated  classes ; 
and  at  night  witness  the  final  pyrotechnic  display,  when  huge  balls  of  fire  are 
flung  sky-ward  and  seem  to  burst  among  the  very  stars,  making  the  night  sub- 
limely attractive  with  falling  flames  of  various  colors,  forming  the  most  beauti- 
ful pictures — if  our  departed  brother  could  come  back  and  see  and  hear  all 
these  sights  and  sounds,  he  would  likely  conclude  that  the  patriotism  of  the 
community  is  still  strangely  and  strongly  mixed  with  sin,  at  least  so  far  as  the 
outward  demonstration  of  it  is  concerned,  and  that  the  evil  one  has  not  wholly 
lost  grip  on  the  proceedings  of  Indepencence  Day,  on  which  occasion  the  line 
of  gravity  usually  falls  outside  the  bounds  of  moral  propriety,  causing  the  pro- 
cession to  move  over  the  broad  way  of  dissipation,  as  it  did  under  the  obser- 
vation of  Mr.  Asbury  more  than  a  hundred  years  ago. 

The  first  property  owned  and   occupied  by  the  United  Brethren  Church 
in  this  city  was  bought  in    1805,  previous  to  which  time  our   public  services 

were  held  in  private 
houses.  On  the  5th 
day  of  May,  1805, 
Frederick  Kailor 
deeded  to  George 
A.  Geetin^,  Chris- 
tian New^comerand 
John  Hershey,  "the 
westermost  half  of 
lot  number  72,  in 
Elizabeth  Town, 
containing  4 1  feet 
in  breadth  and  240 
in  length, tobe held 
in  trust  for  the  "So- 
ciety   of    United 

Geeting  School  and  Meeting  House.  1780  Christians,"    aS     the 

organization  was  called.  That  lot  cost  $900,  and  is  located  on  West  Wash- 
ington Street,  a  few  doors  above  the  city  hotel,  and  is  now  owned  and  occu- 
pied by  Mr.  J.  H.  Beachley.  On  that  lot  was  erected,  probably  by  the  trustees, 
a  two-story  log  house,  which  was  afterward  weather-boarded.  The  lower 
part  of  the  house  was  occupied  as  a  dwelling,  while  the  upper  story  was  used 
for  purposes  of  public  worship,  being  reached  from  the  outside  by  means  of 
a  flight  of  fifteen  steps.     Messrs.  John  Albert  and  William  Miller,  brothers-in- 


UNITEDBRETHRENCHURCH  263 

law,  once  lived  in  the  lower  part  of  the  house,  w^hich  was  afterward  occupied 
by  a  Mr.  Swizzler,  a  lame  man,  whose  wife  carried  on  the  millinery  business. 
For  some  of  these  facts  I  am  indebted  to  Miss  Susan  Bell,  our  esteemed 
neighbor,  whose  father  lived  in  a  log  house  immediately  opposite  the  "new 
meeting  house,"  as  that  humble  and  unsuitable  building  was  called.  When 
William  Miller's  father  came  to  Hagerstown  in  I  806,  he  moved  into  the  first 
story  of  the  "new  church."  On  the  24th  day  of  May,  1805,  just  nineteen  days 
after  the  deed  was  made  and  one  before  it  was  recorded,  the  house  was 
dedicated  to  God  by  Rev.  George  A.  Geeting,  who  took  this  for  his  text :  "But 
refuse  profane  and  old  w^ives'  fables,  and  exercise  thyself  rather  unto  godli- 
ness. For  bodily  exercise  profiteth  little  ;  but  godliness  is  profitable  unto  all 
things,  having  promise  of  the  life  that  now^  is,  and  that  which  is  to  come." 

For  five  years  our  people  w^orshiped  in  the  log  house  on  Washington 
Street,  holding  prayer  and  class  meetings,  and  breaking  the  bread  of  life  to 
the  people,  many  of  whom  were  successfully  pointed  to  the  Lamb  of  God, 
and  found  peace  and  pardon  by  believing  in  him.  About  this  time  the  society 
w^as  prosperous  and  peaceful,  and  grew  in  spiritual  strength  and  numbers. 

In  1810,  for  some  reason  unknown  to  the  w^riter,  perhaps  because  the 
building  was  too  small  and  unsuitable,  the  trustees  sold  the  house  and  lot  on 
Washington  Street  at  an  advance  of  $100,  and  purchased  lot  No.  143,82x250 
feet,  situated  on  the  northeast  corner  of  Franklin  and  Locust  Streets,  of  Jona- 
than Rohaser  and  John  P.  Herr,  president  and  secretary  of  the  "German 
Evangelical  Reformed  Congregation  of  Zion  Church,"  for  the  sum  of  $100. 
The  deed  was  made  October  20,  1813,  two  years  or  more  after  the  purchase 
and  w^hen  the  last  payment  was  made,  I  suppose,  to  Jacob  King,  George  Mar- 
teney,  Samuel  Beeler,  Henry  Stotler  and  Peter  Stotler,  trustees  of  the  Society 
of  the  United  Brethren  in  Christ.  But  before  the  above  deed  was  made,  the 
same  year  the  Washington  Street  property  was  sold  (1810),  a  brick  church 
'was  erected  on  this  lot,  and  the  trustees  were  John  Hershey  and  Brother  Mid- 
<llekauff.  It  cost  $1,200,  including  the  lot.  In  the  Telescope  of  September  10, 
1845,  Rev.  Robert  E.  H.  Levering,  in  referring  to  this  new  house  of  w^orship, 
calls  it  a  "beautiful  and  convenient  brick  church,"  which  was  strictly  true  w^hen 
compared  to  the  house  they  had  just  left  on  Washington  Street.  It  set  farther 
back  on  the  lot  than  the  present  house  does,  and  in  front  of  it,  on  Franklin 
Street,  there  were  several  large  locust  trees,  in  one  of  w^hich,  on  one  occasion, 
a  bird's  nest  was  discovered  by  the  boys,  who  immediately  concluded  that  a 
know^ledge  of  its  contents  w^as  both  necessary  and  desirable  ;  so  Master  Thomas 
Mittag,  who  was  then  about  ten  years  old  and  lived  in  a  stone  house  that 
stood  on  the  corner  of  Franklin  and  Locust  Streets,  nov/  owned  and  occupied 
by  Mr  J.  E.  Ridenour,  undertook  the  task  of  inspecting  the  bird's  nest,  in 
doing  which  he  fell  from  the  tree  and  broke  his  left  arm.  Not  knowing  the 
serious  nature  of  the  injury  sustained,  and  with  the  fear  of  a  sound  flogging 
before  his  eyes,  young  Mittag  cautioned  the  boys  not  to  tell  his  mother  of  the 
accident ;  but  w^hen    his   playmates   saw  the    helpless  condition    of   his  limb, 


264  LANDMARK     HISTORYOFTHE 

which  hung  dangling  at  his  side,  Mrs.  Mittag  was  informed  of  his  misfortune, 
and  Dr.  Shuman  was  called  in  and  set  the  arm. 

The  main  entrance  was  on  Franklin  Street,  but  there  was  also  a  door  on 
Locust  Street,  used  chiefly  by  those  who  occupied  the  gallery.  The  pulpit,  a 
square,  box-like  arrangement,  above  which  nothing  but  the  preacher's  head 
could  be  seen,  was  on  the  right  as  you  entered  from  Franklin  Street,  while  to 
the  left,  on  the  Locust  Street  side,  there  was  a  gallery  extending  the  entire 
length  of  the  building.  The  pulpit  was  very  high,  and  was  reached  by  a  flight 
of  eight  or  ten  steps.  The  house  was  heated  by  means  of  a  "ten-plate  stove," 
and  the  seats  were  uncomfortable  benches.  The  chapel  was  without  chancel 
or  carpet,  but  there  was  a  "mourners'  bench,"  which  is  about  the  only  piece 
of  furniture  we  have  left  to  remind  us  of  the  days  of  our  fathers,  when  there 
was  certainly  less  similarity  existing  between  the  Church  and  the  world  than 
there  is  today.  Rev.  Mr.  Dresbach  was  the  first  preacher  who  occupied  the 
pulpit  of  the  new  chapel,  and  "an  early  revival  gave  it  an  appropriate  house- 
warming." 

On  the  29th  of  April,  1818,  just  eight  years  after  the  new  chapel  was 
erected,  the  lot  and  church  were  sold  to  William  Brazier,  Job  Hunt,  Levin 
Willis,  John  Weber  and  Ralph  Armstrong,  trustees  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  for  the  sum  of  $422,  and  on  condition  that  the  United  Brethren  should 
have  free  and  uninterrupted  use  of  the  chapel  every  alternate  Sabbath,  and 
at  other  times  when  not  used  by  the  Methodists,  with  the  use  of  burying 
ground,  each  party  to  pay  one-half  of  the  expenses.  Twelve  years  later,  on 
the  24th  of  April,  1830,  on  payment  of  $422,  this  same  property  was  bought 
back  by  the  United  Brethren  in  Christ ;  and  thus,  after  worshiping  together 
for  twelve  years,  the  two  societies  finally  separated,  the  Methodists  going  to 
their  new  home  on  Jonathan  Street,  and  the  followers  of  Otterbein  remaining 
on  this  sacred  spot,  where  God's  people  have  been  confirmed  in  the  hope  of 
the  Gospel,  and  thousands  of  sinners  have  been  prevailed  upon  to  forsake 
sin  and  embrace  the  Saviour. 

In  the  early  history  of  this  congregation,  w^hen  the  tw^o  societies  w^orshiped 
together,  the  members  of  the  church  and  other  well-disposed  persons  were 
frequently  annoyed  by  the  rude  and  wicked  conduct  of  those  who  came  out 
of  mere  curiosity,  or  else  for  the  purpose  of  interrupting  the  services.  Tradi- 
tion says  that  a  wicked  wag,  during  the  darkness  of  the  night,  placed  a 
hornets'  nest  under  a  seat  in  the  "amen  corner,"  and  when  the  preacher 
warmed  up  in  the  discussion  of  his  subject,  and  the  good  people  began  to  get 
happy,  the  congregation  of  hornets,  who  seemed  to  be  more  provoked  than 
pleased  with  the  services,  came  forth  in  wrath  and  fury,  and  actually  drove 
the  saints  of  God  from  the  camp  of  Israel. 

The  present  church  building  was  erected  thirty  years  ago  (in  1858),  when 
Rev.  W.  T.  Lower  was  pastor  of  the  congregation,  and  was  dedicated  on  the 
1st  of  January,  1859,  by  Bishop  J.  J.  Glossbrenner,  who  was  assisted  in  the 
services  by  Rev.  W.  R.  Coursey  and  the  pastor.  The  debt  on  the  new  church 
on  the  day  of  dedication  was  $494,  all  of  which  was  secured  on  that  occasion. 


UNITEDBRETHRENCHURCH  265 

Four  years  ago,  under  the  efficient  pastoral  supervision  of  Rev.  W.  O.  Fries, 
the  house  erected  in  1858  v^as  enlarged  and  remodeled  at  a  cost  of  $2,400, 
half  of  w^hich  w^as  collected  and  paid  over  under  my  predecessor's  adminis- 
tration, leaving  a  balance  of  $1,300,  which  has  since  been  reduced  to  $812.16, 
the  present  indebtedness  (see  illustration  of  Hagerstown  Church  and  Parson- 
age on  page  261).  The  reopening  services  occurred  on  the  15th  of  Novem- 
ber, 1885,  and  w^ere  conducted  by  President  DeLong,  D.D..  of  Lebanon  Val- 
ley College,  assisted  by  Rev.  C.  M.  Hott  and  the  pastor. 

In  1871,  under  the  pastoral  management  of  Rev.  J.  W.  Kiracofe,  the  trus- 
tees, D.  Schindle,  D.  Kohler,  D.  Good,  J.  B.  Shatzer  and  S.  Baker,  bought  a  lot 
on  the  south  side  of  East  Washington  Street,  between  Potomac  and  Locust, 
and  on  it  erected  a  fine  large  parsonage  at  a  cost  of  $3,500,  including  the  lot. 
The  house  w^as  built  w^hen  labor  and  material  w^ere  high,  and  before  the 
exchequer  of  the  congregation  was  sufficiently  furnished  for  such  an  expensive 
enterprise,  and  the  property  had  to  be  sold. 

In  the  fall  of  1887  the  board  of  trustees,  G.  M.  Gruber,  H.  G.  Smith,  Levi 
Werst,  R.  M.  Sanders  and  C.  A.  Schwinger,  concluded  to  erect  a  parsonage 
on  the  vacant  lot  adjoining  the  church,  where  the  first  one  could  and  should 
have  been  built,  and  in  less  than  five  months  the  pastor  and  his  family  were 
snugly  fixed  in  the  neat  and  convenient  manse  on  our  left,  w^hich  cost  $1,500 
without  the  lot,  and  was  paid  for  before  the  painter's  brush  had  given  it  the 
finishing  touch.  The  lot,  w^hich  originally  cost  but  $100,  is  now  worth,  includ- 
ing the  improvements,  not  a  cent  less  than  $40,000. 

Having  thus  chiefly  review^ed  the  history  of  the  temporal  and  material 
interests  of  the  congregation,  let  us  briefly  consider  its  spiritual  and  religious 
progress  and  development,  keeping  our  eye  upon  the  fact  that  the  true  value 
of  a  church  or  congregation  is  measured,  not  by  the  size  and  quality  of  its 
church  house  and  furnishing ;  not  by  the  height  of  its  steeple,  the  sound  of  its 
bell,  or  the  tone  of  its  organ ;  not  by  its  numerical  strength  or  material  wealth, 
but  by  its  spiritual  life  and  usefulness. 

The  founder  of  our  church  and  congregation  in  this  city  was  Rev.  George 
A.  Geeting,  who  was  born  in  Germany  in  1  74  1 ,  but  came  to  America  when 
he  was  only  eighteen  years  old  and  settled  on  the  Antietam,  near  Keedysville, 
where  he  soon  after  sought  and  found  the  Saviour.  He  was  favored  of  nature 
with  splendid  mental  endowments,  which  he  developed  industriously  and 
cultivated  a  keen  relish  for  literary  pursuits,  and  finally  became  a  deservedly 
distinguished  preacher,  almost  as  much  at  home  in  the  English  and  Latin 
languages  as  he  was  in  the  German.  He  became  the  esteemed  co-laborer  of 
Otterbein  and  Boehm,  and  never  swerved  in  his  devotion  to  God  and  the 
Church.  In  characterizing  the  style  and  preaching  ability  of  those  three 
worthies,  the  historian  has  this  to  say : 

"Otterbein  was  argumentative,  eloquent  and  often  terrible  in  the  denunci- 
ation of  sin.  In  the  elucidation  of  the  Scriptures  clear  and  thorough,  few  being 
his  equal  in  these  respects." 


266  LANDMARK    HISTORY    OF    THE 

"Boehm  was  the  plain,  open,  frank  expounder  of  God's  Word  ;  and,  being 
full  of  life  and  animation,  he  often  carried  his  congregation  before  him  as  if 
they  had  been  borne  along  by  a  resistless  current. " 

■'But  Geeting  was  like  an  early  spring  sun  rising  on  a  frost-silvered  for- 
est, which  gradually  affords  more  light  and  heat,  until  you  begin  to  hear  the 
crackling  of  the  ice-covered  branches,  the  dripping  of  the  melted  snow,  as  it 
w^ere  a  shower  of  rain,  and  until  a  smiling,  joyous  day  appears.  " 

About  the  year  1  790  Mr.  Geeting  established  an  appointment  in  this 
place,  soon  after  organized  a  society,  and  from  that  on  continued  to  feed  the 
flock  of  God  and  warn  sinners  till  1807,  when  he  ceased  to  be  the  pastor  of 
this  congregation.  Under  his  labors  the  society  grew  in  number  and  waxed 
strong  in  spirit,  and  finally  purchased  the  property  on  Washington  Street.  It 
should  be  gratifying  to  the  congregation  to  knov/that  its  founder  was  an  able, 
pious,  consecrated  man,  who  literally  gave  his  heart  and  life  to  Jesus  and  the 
Church,  and  ceased  not  to  toil  till  called  to  his  reward  on  high.  While  re- 
turning from  a  visit  to  Otterbein,  in  Baltimore,  at  the  home  of  a  Mr.  Snyder, 
some  thirty  miles  this  side,  his  brave  spirit  peacefully  and  triumphantly  quit 
the  body,  after  singing  this  significant  stanza : 

"Komm,  du  lang  verlangte  stunde,  "Come,  thou  long  expected  moment, 
Komm,  du  Lebensgeist  von  oben  ;  Come,  thou  Spirit  from  on  high, 

O  wie  soil  mein  froher  Munde,  'Tis  thy  call,  my  Lord  and  Master  ; 

Jesu  deine  Treue  loben.  How  shall  1  express  my  joy, 

Wann  mich  deine  Liebesmacht,  When  thy  grace  and  power  of  love, 
Dir  zu  dienen  frei  gemacht."  Bids  me  rise  to  climes  above." 

Thus  closed  the  useful  life  of  the  founder  and  first  pastor  of  this  congre- 
gation, who  w^as  a  resident  of  the  county  for  fifty  years.  As  an  intelligent, 
consecrated  servant  of  God,  he  was  a  sample  of  those  w^ho  follow^ed  him  in 
the  work  here.  Let  us  here  pause  long  enough  to  run  over  the  list,  and 
reverently  mention  the  names  of  those  who  unselfishly  toiled  to  promote  the 
spiritual  v^elfare  of  the  members  of  this  congregation  during  the  last  century. 
Here  they  are  : 

Up  to  1807,  George  A.  Geeting;  1807,  David  Snyder;  1808,  Joseph 
Hoffman  (appointed  to  preach  in  Maryland  and  part  of  Pennsylvania) ;  1810, 
Abraham  Draksel  and  others  (Maryland  and  Pennsylvania);  1811,  Joseph 
Hoffman  and  Henry  Heistand  (Maryland  and  Pennsylvania);  1813,  Henry 
Spayth  (preached  only  in  Maryland);  1814,  John  Snyder  (Hagerstown  cir- 
cuit); 1 8 1 6,  different  ministers  (during  this  year  there  was  a  campmeeting 
held  at  Middlekauff s,  four  miles  from  Hagerstown) ;  1818,  Conrad  Roth  (re- 
ceived permission  to  preach  in  and  around  Hagerstown);  1819,  Daniel  Pfeifer 
(Hagerstown  circuit) ;  1  820,  William  Brown  and  Conrad  Weist  (Hagerstown 
circuit);  1825,  Gideon  Smith  (Hagerstown  circuit);  1827,  John  Zahn  and 
John  Eckstine  ;  1  828,  John  Zahn;  1  830,  (probably)  Rev.  Mr.  Krack  ;  1831.  J. 
J.  Grossbrenner  (Frederick  included);  1832,  John  Dorcas  and  Peter  Whitesel ; 
1833,  John  Dorcas  and  W.  R.  Coursey ;    1834,  John  Haney  and  W.  R.  Cour- 


UNITED    BRETHREN    CHURCH  267 

sey  (Frederick  detached);  1835,  George  Rimal  and  Jacob  Baer ;  1836,  George 
Rimal  and  Martin  L.  Fries ;  1837,  William  Knott;  1 838,  William  Knott  and 
Jacob  Markwood;  1839,  C.W.  Zahn  and  Jacob  Markwood ;  1840,  George 
Gilbert  and  John  Reubush ;  1841,  John  Reubush  and  David  S.  Spessard ; 
1842,  David  S.  Spessard;  1843,  Jacob  Bachtel  and  John  Richards;  1844,  Ja- 
cob Bachtel  ;  1845,  Jacob  Bachtel  and  Richard  Nihiser;  1  846,  J.  E.  Bowersox  ; 
1847,  J.  E.  Bowersox  and  J.  W.  Miles;  1848,  J.  W.  Fulkerson  and  J.  W.  Miles; 
1849,  J.  W.  Fulkerson  and  one  to  be  supplied;  1850,  W.  R.  Coursey  and  1. 
K.  Statton  ;  1  85  1 ,  W.  R.  Coursey  ;  1  852,  H.  B.  Winton  and  David  S.  Spessard  ; 
1853,  H.  B.  Winton  and  John  Perry;  1854,  no  record  ;  1855,  J.  W.  Miles  and 
A.  G.  Grayham;  1856,  W.  R.  Coursey  and  C.  B.  Hammack;  1857-60,  W.  T. 
Lower  (Station);  1861-62,  G.  W.  Statton;  1863,  H.  B.  Winton  ;  1 864,  C.  T. 
Stearn  ;  1865,  W.  T.  Lower;  1866,  no  record  ;  1867,  C.  B.  Hammack  and  J. 
E.  Hott;  1768,  C  B.  Hammack  and  A.  Hoover;  1869,  1.  Baltzell ;  1870-73,  J. 
W.  Kiracofe;  1872,  J.  W.  Hott  and  G.  W.  Lightner  ;  1 874,  G.  W.  Statton  ; 
1876-77,  C.  M.  Hott;  1878,  J.  W.  Funk;  1879,  C.W.  Stinespring;  1880-83, 
E.  Ludwick;  1883,  S.  H.  Snell;  1884-85.  W.  O.  Fries;  1886-90,  C.  I.  B. 
Brane. 

Of  the  seventy-five  or  more  ministers  w^ho  served  this  congregation  as 
pastor  about  fifty-eight  have  joined  the  silent  majority.  They  rest  from  their 
labors  and  their  works  do  follow  them.  We  should  hold  them  in  grateful 
remembrance  for  the  sacrifices  they  made  traveling  almost  continually  and 
preaching  the  Word  night  and  day.  In  1811  the  pastors  of  this  congregation 
preached  at  many  places  in  Carroll,  Frederick  and  Washington  Counties,  and 
also  traveled  the  Cumberland  Valley  from  the  Potomac  to  the  Susquehanna. 
In  that  territory  w^e  now  have  about  fifty  pastors,  w^ho  preach  to  more  than 
fifty  thousand  people  every  Sabbath. 

In  reviewing  the  history  of  this  congregation  I  must  make  special  mention 
of  the  names  of  Christian  Newcomer  and  John  Russel,  w^ho  were  not  natives 
of  the  county,  but  residents  of  it,  the  former  living  in  the  vicinity  of  Beaver 
Creek  and  the  latter  near  Keedysville.  They  were  both  Germans,  and  both 
made  full  proof  of  their  ministry,  being  able,  earnest  ministers,  and  finally  be- 
came bishops  in  the  Church.  Newcomer  w^as  born  in  Lancaster  County,  Pa., 
on  the  21st  of  January,  1  749,  and  afterward  became  a  resident  of  this  county, 
together  with  his  two  brothers,  Henry  and  Peter.  His  father's  name  w^as 
Wolfgang  Newcomer,  who  came  from  Switzerland  to  this  country  when  he 
w^as  a  child.  Christian  Newcomer  was  converted  when  he  w^as  about  eigh- 
teen years  old,  and  connected  himself  with  the  United  Brethren  in  Christ,  and 
in  that  Church  he  lived  and  labored  as  an  honored  member,  minister  and 
bishop  until  March  1 2th,  1 830,  when  he  died  in  great  peace.  His  funeral 
was  attended  by  a  vast  multitude  of  people,  and  German  and  English  services 
were  conducted  by  Bishop  Henry  Kumler  and  Rev.  John  Zahn.  His  body 
rests  in  the  family  burial  ground  near  Beaver  Creek.  I  have  seen  and  heard 
it  stated  that,  nine  days  before  his  death.  Bishop  Newcomer  left  home  on 
professional  duty,  and  his  horse  took  fright  and   threw  him,  breaking  several 


268  LANDMARK    HISTORY    OF    THE 

of  his  ribs,  and  that  this  accident  resulted  in  his  death.  1  have  not  been  able 
to  verify  the  statement,  except  by  Scharf's  History  of  Western  Maryland, 
which  1  have  found  quite  unreliable  in  church  matters.  For  instance,  in 
speaking  of  Mr.  Newcomer,  Mr.  Scharf  says,  ''He  was  a  bishop  of  the  German 
Methodist  Society  for  fifty  years ;"  and  at  another  place  in  the  same  volume, 
in  speaking  of  the  same  person,  he  says :  "Mr.  Newcomer  became  a  noted 
minister  of  the  German  Reformed  Church,  and  eventually  a  bishop  of  that 
denomination."  A  bishop  in  the  German  Reformed  Church  is  certainly  a 
new  thing  under  the  sun  ! 

Bishop  John  Russel  was  born  on  Pipe  Creek,  Carroll  County,  Maryland, 
March  18,  1  799.  He  was  converted  in  early  life,  and  became  an  able  preach- 
er and  liberal  supporter  of  the  Church,  and  contributed  much  to  its  spiritual 
and  material  prosperity.  Among  the  honored  members  of  this  congregation 
are  his  daughter  and  grand-daughter,  Mrs.  Ann  Emmert,  who  has  never 
swerved  in  her  devotion  to  the  Church  in  which  her  father  and  mother  lived 
and  died,  and  Mrs.  Nannie  Wolf,  her  daughter.  And  then  there  was  Rev.  J. 
J.  Glossbrenner,  who  was  born  in  this  town  on  the  24th  of  July,  1813,  and 
became  a  member  of  this  congregation  when  he  was  but  seventeen  years  old. 
Two  years  later  he  was  licensed  to  preach  and  received  into  the  Virginia 
Conference,  and  from  that  time  to  the  day  of  his  death,  which  occurred  three 
years  ago,  he  was  a  bright  and  shining  light  in  the  world.  He  entered  the 
ministry  of  this  Church  at  a  critical  period  of  its  history,  and  subsequently 
exerted  a  controlling  influence  upon  its  general  management.  About  this 
time  many  of  our  congregation  were  in  a  transition  state,  and  substituted  the 
English  for  the  German  language,  in  doing  which  we  lost  thousands  of  mem- 
bers, who  went  chiefly  to  the  Methodist  Church.  The  English  language  was 
used  more  and  more  in  the  community,  and  our  young  people  demanded  its 
use  in  the  church  services,  especially  in  the  pulpit,  while  the  old  members 
were  often  reluctant  to  give  up  their  mother  tongue,  or  else  were  unable  to 
secure  the  services  of  ministers  in  our  Church  who  could  speak  the  English 
language.  The  Methodist  Church  used  the  English  language  exclusively  in 
public  worship  in  this  town,  and  therefore  many  of  our  young  people  wor- 
shiped with  them,  and  finally  became  members  of  that  Church. 

In  1831  Virginia  Conference  was  organized,  and  Glossbrenner  was  ap- 
pointed to  Hagerstown  circuit.  He  preached  in  English  exclusively,  and  w^as 
instrumental  in  saving  the  Church  many  of  our  young  people,  who  demanded 
the  introduction  of  the  English  language  in  the  public  services  of  the  Church. 
From  1831  to  1845  he  labored  most  faithfully  and  efficiently  as  pastor  and 
presiding  elder,  and  was  then  elected  bishop,  in  which  capacity  he  served 
the  Church  for  forty  years.  His  preaching  was  plain  and  precious,  earnest 
and  edifying,  and  through  his  influence  thousands  of  people  were  saved  from 
sin  and  death.  The  fact  that  this  society  was  instrumental  in  the  conversion 
and  introduction  into  the  ministry  of  J.  J.  Glossbrenner,  even  if  it  had  done 
nothing  else,  would  more  than  compensate  for  all  the  toil  and  sacrifice  of 
those  who  first  labored  to  establish  the  Church  in  this  community. 


UNITED    BRETHREN    CHURCH 


269 


Rev.  J.  M.  Hershey,  another  faithful  and  efficient  minister  of  the  New 
Testament,  was  converted  and  brought  into  the  ministry  through  the  instru- 
mentahty  of  this  congregation,  and  joined  the  annual  conference  in  1833,  and 
subsequently  moved  w^est  and  joined  the  St.  Joseph  Conference,  of  w^hich  he 
was  an  active  and  useful  member  till  he  died. 

In  the  early  history  of  this  congregation  among  the  most  prominent  lay- 
men w^ere  Jacob  Braizer,  John  Hershey,  George  Marteney,  Andrew^  New^- 
comer,  Jacob  King, 
Samuel  B  e  e  1  e  r, 
Henry  and  Peter 
Stotler  and  Brother 
Middlekauff.  These 
men  w^ere  all  prom- 
inent members  of 
the  church,  and 
many  of  them  w^ere 
so  in  the  secular 
interests  and  enter- 
prises of  the  com- 
munity. Mr.  Jacob 
King  was  a  wagon 
maker,  and  once 
lived  in  the  rough- 
cast house  next  to 

Marr's       shop,       on  Jacob  King's  Home 

West  Franklin  Street  above  Jonathan.  A  gentleman  who  knew  him  personally 
told  me  that  he  was  a  splendid  man  religiously,  and  was  in  good  temporal 
circumstances.  Other  members  of  his  family  belonged  to  the  church,  and 
among  them  his  son  Daniel,  who  was  a  blacksmith,  but  finally  kept  a  grocery 
store. 

George  Marteney,  Sr.,  w^as  another  prominent  member  of  the  congrega- 
tion, and  once  lived  in  the  stone  house  now^  occupied  by  Mr.  S.  Nyman,  on 
West  Franklin  Street,  w^here  he  carried  on  the  business  of  making  saddle- 
trees. In  1820  he  was  one  of  the  commissioners  of  the  town.  His  wife  and 
children  also  belonged  to  the  church.  One  of  his  sons  (George,  I  think)  made 
chairs  and  spinning  wheels,  and  at  one  time  conducted  his  business  in  a  stone 
house  that  stood  on  the  lot  now  occupied  by  Mr.  Bloom's  new  warehouse  on 
North  Potomac  Street.  Mr.  Thomas  Mittag  remembers  him  well,  because  he 
stopped  to  turn  the  grindstone  for  him  one  morning,  which  made  him  late  at 
school.  Young  Mittag  got  a  penny  for  turning  the  grindstone,  and  a  sound 
flogging  for  being  late  at  school.  He  died  on  the  18th  of  January,  1850,  and 
the  Herald  of  Freedom,  in  its  issue  of  the  23d  of  the  month  and  year,  contained 
the  following  obituary:  "In  this  place,  on  Friday  last,  Mr.  George  Marteney,  Sr., 
aged  85  years,  1  1  months  and  1  8  days.  In  the  death  of  Mr.  Marteney  our 
town  has  lost  one  of  its  aged  patriarchs,  the  community  an  honest,  good  citi- 


270 


LANDMARK     HISTORY    OF    THE 


zen,  and  the  church  a  consistent  member.  Through  a  long  hfe,  sixty  years 
of  which  were  spent  in  this  town,  Mr.  Marteney  sustained  the  character  of  an 
upright  man,  a  kind   neighbor,  a  good   citizen  and   faithful  Christian.     Thus 

one  after  another 
our  fathers  are 
passing  away, 
and  soon,  very 
soon  indeed,  w^ill 
all  those  w^ho 
lived  in  the  days 
which  tried  men's 
souls,  and  gave 
birth  tothe splen- 
did fabric  of  civil 
government,have 
been  gathered  to 
their  fathers.  But 
those  of  them 
w^ho  possessed 
the  shining  vir- 
tues of  the  de- 
ceased w^ill  live 
in  the  reme  m- 


George  Marteney's  Home 


brance  of  the  good  of  posterity  long  after  their  mortal  bodies  shall  have 
returned  to  dust.  On  Sunday  morning  last  the  remains  of  the  deceased  were 
interred  in  the  burial  ground  attached  to  the  church  of  the  United  Brethren 
in  Christ,  of  which  denomination  of  Christians  he  was  an  exemplary  member. 
The  funeral  obsequies  were  attended  by  an  immense  concourse  of  relatives, 
friends  and  acquaintances,  and  appropriate  addresses  were  delivered  in  the 
German  and  English  language  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Russel  and  Rev.  Mr.  Mark- 
v^ood. " 

Four  years  after  Mr.  Marteney  died.  Brother  John  Hershey,  father  of  Jo- 
seph A.  and  Miss  Savilla  Hershey  and  Mrs.  Resh,  honored  members  of  this 
congregation,  fell  asleep  in  Jesus,  and  the  Herald  and  Torch  of  August  16, 
1854,  has  this  to  say  of  him:  "In  this  town,  on  Thursday  morning  last,  Mr. 
John  Hershey,  aged  83  years,  5  months  and  23  days.  Thus  our  old  men  are 
daily  falling  and  passing  away  to  the  spirit  land  ;  and  one  and  another  of  the 
links  in  the  chain  which  binds  the  present  to  the  past  are  snapped  asunder 
by  the  inexorable  hand  of  death,  until  that  connection  will  soon  exist  only 
upon  the  pages  of  history.  Mr.  Hershey  was  one  of  our  oldest  and  most 
worthy  citizens,  having  become  a  resident  of  this  town  more  than  fifty  years 
ago,  and  having  sustained  a  very  respectable  public  and  an  amiable  domestic 
character.  In  him  his  aged  wife,  the  partaker  of  his  joys  and  sorrows  for  so 
many  years  of  his  life,  and  his  family  of  children,  lament  the  loss  of  an  affec- 
tionate husband  and  a  tender  father,  and  the  church  one  of  its  most  valuable 


UNITED    BRETHREN     CHURCH  271 

members.  For  a  period  of  at  least  twenty-five  years,  or  since  we  have  known 
the  deceased,  he  w^as  a  leading  and  exemplary  member  of  the  United  Breth- 
ren in  Christ,  to  the  support  of  which  he  always  contributed  largely  and 
cheerfully  of  his  substance,  freely  tendering  to  its  ministry  a  home  at  his  house 
during  their  labors  in  this  place,  and  always  taking  a  deep  interest  in  the 
affairs  of  this  worthy  denomination  of  Christians.  But  the  old  patriarch's 
spirit,  freed  from  its  clayey  tenement,  has  ascended  to  worship  in  the  Church 
Triumphant,  w^hile  his  body  reposes  near  the  church  militant,  at  w^hose  altar 
he  bowed  so  many  years  in  an  humble  sense  of  his  dependence  upon  its 
great  Author. 

"The  remains  of  Mr.  Hershey,  followed  by  a  large  train  of  relatives,  ac- 
quaintances and  friends,  were  interred  in  the  burial  ground  attached  to  the 
church  of  the  United  Brethren  in  this  tow^n  on  Saturday  last,  and  two  feeling 
discourses,  one  in  German  by  Rev.  John  Russel  and  the  other  in  English  by 
Rev.  J.  Bachtel,  were  delivered  on  the  solemn  occasion. " 

Brother  John  Hershey  was  also  prominently  identified  w^ith  the  business 
affairs  of  the  community,  and  was  mayor  of  the  town,  or  "moderator,"  as  it 
w^as  then  called,  in  1819,  and  also  in  1823  and  1824.  For  eight  or  ten  years 
he  was  one  of  its  four  commissioners.  On  the  27th  of  October,  1824,  at  the 
court  house  in  that  place,  at  a  meeting  called  for  the  purpose  of  making  ar- 
rangements for  the  entertainment  of  General  Lafayette,  who  was  expected  to 
visit  Hagerstow^n  soon  after,  a  committee  of  one  hundred  citizens  of  the  county 
w^as  appointed,  and  Brother  John  Hershey  vv^as  its  chairman.  He  was  a  son 
of  Rev.  John  Hershey,  a  faithful  member  and  minister  of  the  United  Brethren 
Church. 

But  these  dear  old  fathers  are  gone,  both  ministers  and  laymen,  and  many 
of  their  bodies  sleep  under  the  sod  in  the  rear  of  the  church.  At  least  three 
of  the  pastors  sleep  vv^ith  the  flock  they  helped  to  feed,  as  follows :  Conrad 
Weast,  Richard  Nihiser  and  Martin  L.  Fries.  After  a  life  of  toil  and  self-de- 
nial, patience  and  prayer,  mutually  bearing  each  others'  burdens,  it  seems 
appropriate  that  these  bodies  should  sleep  together  under  the  same  sod,  near 
the  same  church  !     Peace  to  their  ashes ! 

"Their  toils  are  past,  their  work  is  done. 
And  they  are  fully  blest ! 
They  fought  the  fight,  the  victory  won, 
And  entered  into  rest." 

Many  important  and  successful  meetings  were  held  in  the  little  chapel 
our  fathers  first  erected  on  this  corner,  and  distinguished  ministers  of  this  and 
other  denominations  frequently  occupied  its  pulpit.  As  I  have  already  quoted, 
"an  early  revival  gave  it  an  appropriate  house-warming ;"  and  on  the  24th  of 
May,  1814,  the  annual  conference  met  in  it,  and  Mr.  Newcomer  says  it  was 
the  most  successful  conference  yet  held.  On  the  27th  of  August,  1812,  dur- 
ing  his  last  visit   to  Hagerstown,  Bishop  Asbury,  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 


272 


LANDMARK    HISTORY 


Church,  preached  in  the  neat,  new  chapel,  as  he  called  it,  to  about  one  hun- 
dred hearers;  and  on  Sunday  night,  February  16,  1823,  the  celebrated  Loronzo 
Dow  occupied  this  pulpit. 


YOST    HARBAUGH 

Born  January  1  1,  1  771,  the  subject  of  this  sketch  lived  nearly  half  his  life 
in  the  last  century,  his  death  occurring  June  22,  1839,  at  the  age  of  sixty-eight 

years,  five  months  and 
eleven  days.  He  was  the 
fifth  son  of  Ludwig  Har- 
baugh,  who  w^as  the  second 
son  of  Yost  Harbaugh,  a 
native  of  Sw^itzedand  and 
the  first  of  the  Harbaughs 
to  settle  in  America.  Per- 
haps the  Swiss  instinct  of 
the  family  led  them  to  settle 
in  one  of  the  most  pictur- 
esque spots  in  the  South 
Yost  Harbaugh  Home  Mountaiu  range, which  took 

and  retains  their  name,  "Harbaughs  Valley."  It  is  located  in  the  northwestern 
corner  of  Frederick  County,  Maryland,  and  is  now  a  thickly-settled,  well-culti- 
vated and  prosperous  community.  The  Harbaughs  were  strictly  brought  up 
in  the  faith  of  the  Reformed  Church,  but  Yost,  the  son  of  Ludwig,  identified 
himself  with  the  United  Brethren  in  Christ,  and  made  his  home  one  of  the 
first  preaching  places  of  the  denomination. 

On  the  2  1  st  of  December,  1  795,  less  than  two  months  after  he  made  the 
first  entry  in  his  journal, 
Newcomer  mentionsthefact 
that  on  that  day  he  "had  a 
meeting  at  Brother  Har- 
baugh's,"  and  four  months 
later,  on  the  2  1  st  of  April, 
I  796,  he  says :  "I  preached 
this  day  at  Brother  Har- 
baugh's,  where  the  storm 
had  also  done  great  dam- 
age. The  barn  w^as  uncov- 
ered,several  outhouses  were 
leveled  to  the  ground,  and 
in  an  extensive  orchard  near 
the  house,  barely  a  tree  was  left  standing."  Four  years  later,  on  Friday,  April 
24,  1 800,  he  says :  "Today  I  set  out  again   on   the   circuit ;  preached  and  met 


Yost  Harbaugh's  Barn 


UNITED    BRETHREN    CHURCH 


273 


the  class  at  Harbaugh's."  Three  months  later  he  says :  "1  preached  at  Yost 
Harbaugh's;"  and  on  Tuesday,  July  25,  1826,  which  is  a  quarter  of  a  century 
later,  he  mentions  his  name  for  the  last  time  in  this  way :  "I  rode  to  Yost 
Harbaugh's,  and  stayed  for  the  night." 

Yost  Harbaugh's  children  w^ere  Thomas,  William,  Daniel,  Elizabeth,  who 
married  Charles  Smith ;  Sarah,  who  married  Henry  Fitz,  and  Sophia,  who 
married  John  Nagle.  Daniel,  third  son  of  Yost,  died  in  1874,  and  the  writer 
officiated  at  the  funeral.  He 
ow^ned  and  occupied  the  old 
homestead  after  his  father 
died,  but  finally  sold  it  to 
Lew^is  Wertenbaker,  a  firm 
and  faithful  member  of  our 
Church,  whose  son  George 
now^  owns  and  occupies  the 
place.  A  part  of  the  original 
dw^elling,  built  by  Yost  Har- 
baugh  more  than  a  hundred 
years  ago,  is  still  standing.  It 
is  about  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  years  old,  and  the  cut  is  a  fairly  good 
likeness  of  it.  The  building  faces  east.  We  also  give  a  cut  of  the  old  barn, 
in  which  the  "great  meetings '  were  held.  It  is  the  same  barn  that  Newcomer 
says  was  unroofed  by  the  storm  in  I  796.  It  looks  at  least  one  hundred  years 
older  than  it  appears  in  the  picture. 

Just  back  of  the  barn  Yost  Harbaugh  and  his  w^ife  w^ere  buried ;  but  w^hen 
Otterbein  Chapel  was  built  near  by,  in  1 849,  their  bodies  w^ere  removed  to 
the  new  cemetery,  where  they  sweetly  sleep  with  those  of  their  friends  w^ho 
have  since  died.  Here  in  this  chapel,  beautifully  situated  in  the  heart  of  Har- 
baughs  Valley,  the  writer  was  licensed  to  preach  by  the  quarterly  conference 
of  Frederick  Circuit,  Rev.  H.  A.  Bovey  elder,  in  1870.  It  is  a  log  house, 
"w^eather-boarded,"  about  forty  by  thirty  feet,  and  faces  the  west.  It  is  located 
on  the  east  side  of  the  valley,  which  runs  north  and  south. 


Otterbein  Chapel 


HENRY     HEMP 


Henry  Hemp  was  born  in  Frederick  County,  Maryland,  April  27,  1784, 
of  German  parents,  whose  Christian  example  early  influenced  him  to  accept 
Jesus  as  his  personal  Saviour.  He  immediately  united  with  the  United  Breth- 
ren Church,  and  worked  hard  to  build  it  up  wherever  he  lived.  On  June  1 , 
1813,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Snook,  of  near  Monocacy,  a  most 
estimable  Christian  woman  of  twenty  summers.  These  happy  young  people 
were  but  fairly  started  upon  life's  journey  with  a  daughter  and  son,  Rebecca 
and  John,  when  God  saw  fit  to  call  unto  himself  this  lovely  young  wife,  who 
died    February  24,  1816.     The   two    little   children  were  very  tenderly  cared 


274 


LANDMARK     HISTORY    OF    THE 


Henry  Hemp 


for  by  a  loving  and  devoted  sister  of  Mr.  Hemp.     Thus,  with  Elizabeth's  help, 
Mr.  Hemp  kept  the  family  together  until  May  16,  1817,  when  he  w^as  married 

to  Miss  Elizabeth  Keller,  of  Jefferson,  Frederick 
County,  Maryland.  Miss  Keller  was  a  charming 
Christian  v/oman,  w^ho  devoted  her  life  to  the  duties 
of  making  a  happy  home  for  her  husband  and  his 
little  ones,  whom  she  accepted  as  the  objects  of 
her  special  care  and  affection,  and  Mr.  Hemp's  aged 
father,  wrho  remained  with  them  until  April  15, 
1834,  w^hen  he  died.  These  young  people  worked 
hard  and  soon  succeeded  in  building  up  a  prosper- 
ous and  happy  Christian  home ;  and  unto  them 
were  born  ten  children,  five  sons  and  five  daugh- 
ters, w^ho  -were  reared  on  the  beautiful  farm  near 
Lewistown,  Maryland,  recently  owned  by  Mr.  G, 
W.  Miller,  to  which  Mr.  Hemp's  father  came  w^hen 
he  arrived  from  Germany.  As  the  sons  and  daugh- 
ters grew  up  Mr.  Hemp  realized  the  impossibility  of  securing  land  for  all  of 
them  in  that  country ;  so  he  determined  to  move  to  Ohio,  where  land  was 
then  very  cheap.  Consequently,  in  the  spring  of  1838,  he  moved  in  w^agons 
across  the  Alleghenies  to  their  new  home  vs^est  of  Germantown,  Montgomery 
County,  Ohio.  They  endured  many  privations  in  their  new  home.  Instead 
of  the  large  brick  house  they  left  in  Maryland,  they  now^  had  only  a  log  cabin; 
instead  of  a  large  barn,  they  found  only  a  small  log  pen  ;  instead  of  improved 
roads,  they  found  only  the  narrow,  muddy  wagon  tracks.  But  these  things 
did  not  discourage  them.  Asking  God's  blessing  upon  their  efforts,  prepara- 
tions were  immediately  made  to  build,  and  the  next  summer,  1 839,  a  brick 
house  took  the  place  of  the  log  cabin,  and  soon  a  good  frame  barn  was  built 
to  receive  crops  which  grew  upon  the  rich  soil.  Thus  a  beautiful  farm  was 
carved  out  of  the  thick  forest.  Some  of  the  children  made  homes  of  their 
own.  All  w^ere  busy,  prosperous  and  happy,  when  it  was  discovered  that  the 
v^ife  was  the  victim  of  cancer.  After  an  awful  experience  of  two  years'  suf- 
fering, she  went  home  to  rest  May  12,  1842,  being  then  forty-five  years  and 
ten  months  old.  This  affliction  fell  heavily  upon  the  young  daughters,  who 
were  compelled  to  take  charge  of  the  family,  a  duty  they  most  cheerfully 
accepted  and  performed  until  January  28,  1  844,  a  very,  very  stormy  day,  when 
Mr.  Hemp  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  Thomas.  Mr.  Hemp  remained  upon 
the  farm  until  God  called  him  from  earth's  trials  July  7,  1  868,  aged  eighty-four 
years,  two  months  and  ten  days.  He  was  laid  by  the  side  of  his  second  wife 
in  the  Judy  graveyard,  just  west  of  the  home  in  Montgomery  County,  Ohio. 
Two  little  daughters  having  died  in  Maryland,  ten  children  and  wife  -were 
left  to  mourn  the  loss  of  a  devoted  Christian  husband  and  father.  In  the 
providence  of  God,  on  February  15,  1889,  the  w^idowwas  summoned  to  meet 
the  Judge  before  whom  we  must  all  appear. 


UNITED    BRETHREN    CHURCH 


275 


Mr.  Hemp  was  a  faithful  member  of  the  Church,  as  were  also  some  of 
his  children,  Philip  and  William  being  active  and  influential  in  its  work  and 
worship.  His  grandson,  Mr.  Samuel  Grubbs,  of  Greenville,  Ohio,  to  whom  1 
am  indebted  for  this  sketch,  was  also  an  active  member  for  some  years. 


REV.    JACOB    THOMAS 


1 

"1 

j^^^  .-^ji 

1 

Rev.  Jacob  Thomas  was  born  about  1  745,  and  lived  near  Boonsboro, 
Maryland,  where  he  ow^ned  a  large  tract  of  land,  w^hich  was  later  on  divided 
into  several  large  farms,  one  of  w^hich  be- 
came the  property  of  his  son-in-law,  Mr. 
Conrad  Nicodemus,  at  whose  home  the 
conference  of  I  820  convened.  Mr.  Thomas 
was  a  German,  and  became  associated  with 
Otterbein,  Geeting  and  Newcomer  in  the 
early  history  of  the  revival  movement  w^hich 
resulted  in  the  organization  of  the  United 
Brethren  Church,  in  which  he  was  a  prom- 
inent pioneer  minister.  He  had  six  sons 
and  about  as  many  daughters,  one  of  w^hom 
married  Conrad  Nicodemus.  Solomon  and 
Noah  G.  Thomas,  and  also  their  cousin, 
Jacob  A.  Thomas,  all  noble  Christians  and  Nicodemus'  Mill 

prominent  members  of  the  United  Brethren  Church,  w^ere  grandsons  of  Rev. 
Jacob  Thomas,  who  sleeps  on  the  bank  of  the  Antietam  at  old  Mount 
Hebron. 

Conrad  Nicodemus  became  intimately  associated  with  the  United  Breth- 
ren Church,  if  not  an  active  member.  Mrs.  Nicodemus,  nee  Thomas,  -was  an 
earnest,  faithful  member  and  entertained  the  conference  of  1  820  at  her  home, 
which  was  on  the  road  between  Boonsboro  and  Keedysville.  This  w^as  one 
of  the  regular  preaching  places  of  the  Church.  Nicodemus'  Mill,  w^hich  the 
writer  remembers  well,  stood  near  the  pike  in  a  state  of  decay  until  a  few 
years  ago,  when  it  was  torn  dow^n.  The  accompanying  cut  is  a  picturesque 
reminder  of  the  conference  of  1 820,  w^hich  met  in  the  home  near  by,  and 
held  (it  is  said)  some  of  its  sessions  or  services  in  this  mill.  The  conference 
convened  at  the  Nicodemus  home  May  2,  1820,  and  continued  in  session 
three  days.  Twenty-two  ministers  were  present,  and  the  stationing  committee 
report  is  as  follows : 

Baltimore,  John  Snyder ;  Hagerstown  Circuit,  William  Brown  and  Conrad 
Weist ;  Juniata  Circuit,  John  Brown ;  Virginia  Circuit,  Daniel  Pfeiffer  and 
James  Donohou.  Moreover,  they  elected  presiding  elder  for  each  pastorate, 
as  follows  :  George  Geeting,  Samuel  Huber,  Abraham  Mayer  and  John  Neidig. 
That  w^as  the  day  of  presiding  elders.  Christian  Newcomer  w^as  the  bishop, 
Abraham  Mayer  was  chairman,  and  John  Hildt  secretary.     John  Hildt,  George 


276 


LANDMARK     HISTORY    OF    THE 


Brown,  Daniel  Pfeiffer  and  Henry  Werte  were  ordained.  It  was  a  good  con- 
ference. Conrad  Nicodemus  was  born  in  1  777,  and  died  in  1834.  Buried  at 
Boonsboro,  Maryland. 


TWO     PIONEER    TRUSTEES 

Frederick  Rider  was  born  March  8,  1  795,  and  died  in  Eyler's  Valley 
May  23,  1880.  Funeral  services  were  conducted  in  Wellers  Church  by  Revs. 
J.  D.  Freed  and  W.  L.  Martin. 

Jacob  Martin  was  born  in  Frederick  County,  Maryland,  August  1  3,  1  809, 
and  died  at  Clearspring,  York  County,  Penn'a,  December  31,  1890,  and  is 
buried  at  Gardner's  United  Brethren  Church,  Adams  County,  Penn'a.  Rev. 
Oliver  Diller  conducted  the  funeral  services.  Mr.  Martin  was  gifted  in  song, 
and  was  for  many  years  an  official  member  of  the  congregation  that  worshiped 
in  Wellers  Church.  The  last  thirty  years  of  his  life  was  spent  in  Pennsyl- 
vania. He  was  a  shoemaker,  and  Rev.  Isaiah  Baltzell  learned  that  trade  under 
him.  While  working  for  Mr.  Martin  young  Baltzell  was  converted,  and  the 
old  shoemaker  encouraged  him  to  enter  the  ministry. 


THE    SHIPMAN     HOME 

This  is  a  picture  of  the  home  of  Mrs.  Shipman,  Dayton,  Virginia,  taken 
in  1  880.  It  includes  a  group  of  students  from  Shenandoah  Institute,  located 
one  square  away.  The  persons 
appearing  in  the  picture  are :  Mrs. 
Shipman,  who  stands  first  to  the 
left,  inside  the  yard ;  Mr.  Cook, 
Fred  Davis,  Will  Funkhouser,  a  stu- 
dent, L.O.  Burtner,  Ella  Funkhouser, 
Belie  Huffman  and  C.  I.  B.  Brane. 
The  three  in  the  foreground,  from 
left  to  right,  are  John  Huffman,  Tur- 
ner Funkhouser  and  A.  N.  Horn. 
These  were  all  students  at  the  In- 
stitute except  Mrs.  Shipman  and 
the  writer,  the  former  being  the  lady 
of  the  house,  and  the  latter  the  pas- 
tor of  Dayton  Circuit.  Mr.  Cook  Mrs.  Shipmans  Home 
was  a  fine  young  man,  very  poor  but  persevering,  and  became  a  very  suc- 
cessful physician.  He  is  dead.  Mr.  Will  Funkhouser  lives  at  Bell  Mead,  New 
Jersey,  where  he  owns  a  fine  farm.  Mr.  L.  O.  Burtner  became  a  United 
Brethren  minister,  and  also  served  as  a  missionary  in  Africa  and  the  Philip- 
'  pines.     He   died   in   Dayton,  Ohio,  in  1910.     Mr.  Huffman,  son  of  Mrs.  Ship- 


UNITED    BRETHREN    CHURCH 


277 


man,  became  a  dentist,  married  Miss  Annie  Burtner,  and  moved  to  New  York, 
where  he  died  a  year  or  two  later.  Mr.  Turner  Funkhouser  hves  near  Wash- 
ington City.  Mr.  Horn  became  a  United  Brethren  minister,  and  is  now^  an 
active  pastor.  Miss  Behe  Huffman  married  Mr.  John  D.  Harp,  Benevola, 
Maryland,  where  they  now^  live.  Mr.  Harp  farms  extensively.  Miss  Ella 
Funkhouser  became  the  wife  of  Prof.  James  H.  Ruebush,  w^ho  is  now  the 
president  of  Shenandoah  Collegiate  Institute,  in  which  these  young  people 
were  then  students,  and  of  which  the  Rev.  W.  J.  Zuck,  D.D.,  was  the  presi- 
dent. This  picture  awakens  many  tender  memories,  and  recalls  scenes  and 
associations  of  the  most  sacred  and  abiding  nature,  including  blessed  fel- 
lowships. 


REV.     HENRY     BURTNER 


The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Cumberland  County,  Penn'a,  on 
the  6th  of  May.  1  800.  When  he  was  eighteen  years  old  he  was  converted  at 
one  of  the  "great  meetings"  held  near  his  home  in  the  Cumberland  Valley; 
and  three  years  later  he  became  a  member 
of  the  original  conference  and  received  an 
appointment  as  an  itinerant  minister.  On 
his  twenty-first  birthday  he  left  his  father's 
home  for  his  first  field  of  labor,  w^hich  in- 
cluded appointments  in  Pennsylvania,  Mary- 
land and  Virginia. 

When  Mr.  Burtner  w^as  about  twenty- 
five  years  of  age  he  married  Miss  Margaret 
Stotler,  daughter  of  Peter  Stotler,  of  near 
Leitersburg,  Washington  County,  Maryland, 
who  was  a  prominent  pioneer  member  of 
the  United  Brethren  in  Christ,  his  home 
being  one  of  the  original  preaching  places 
a  century  ago.  Soon  after  his  marriage  Mr. 
Burtner  settled  near  Dayton,  Rockingham 
County,  Virginia,  w^here  he  spent  the  bal- 
ance of  his  life  as  a  farmer  and  local 
preacher,  serving  many  years  as  presiding 
elder.  He  w^as  a  delegate  to  tw^o  general 
conferences — those  of  1829  and   1849. 

In  disposition  and   spirit  he   is  said   to  '^"^  """"^  ^"''"" 

have  been  charmingly  genial,  especially  in  the  social  circle,  where  his  conduct 
was  as  prudent  as  his  presence  was  agreeable.  His  hospitality  was  pure  and 
boundless,  and  his  home  was  the  ministers'  resting  place — "the  preachers' 
home, "  in  fact.  He  was  also  a  liberal  giver  to  those  who  labored  in  the  min- 
istry of  the  Church. 


278 


LANDMARK    HISTORY    OF    THE 


In  personal  appearance  Mr.  Burtner  was  prepossessing,  having  a  fine 
face  and  form,  whose  charms  were  supplemented  with  graceful  manners. 
Indeed,  these  features  are  embodied  in  the  accompanying  cut,  which  was 
made  from  a  portrait  taken  about  1845. 

As  a  preacher  Mr.  Burtner  is  said  to  have  been  remarkably  clear  and 
deep,  two  excellent  qualities.  His  beautiful  eyes  reflected  the  spiritual  fire  of 
his  soul  when  he  preached  the  Gospel,  w^hich  he  did  w^ith  much  fervor,  rarely 
failing  to  interest  and  edify  his  hearers. 

He  had  the  following  children,  and  perhaps  others  of  vs^hom  I  do  not 
know :  George  P.,  Solomon,  Rev.  William  H.,  Ezra,  and  Mary,  all  of  whom, 
except  Ezra,  lived  anddied  in  Rockingham  County,  Virginia.  Ezra  lived  and 
died  near  Hagerstown,  Maryland. 

The  daughter  Mary  w^as  an  exceptionally  spiritually  minded  individual, 
and  died  in  great  peace  and  triumph  several  years  before  her  father.  When 
he  came  to  the  bank  of  the  river  a  few^  years  later,  he  saw^  the  spirit  of  his 
dear  child  on  the  opposite  shore,  and  affectionately  exclaimed,  "Mary!  Mary!" 
Thus  he  died  on  the  5th  of  January,  1857;  and  nine  years  later,  on  the  29th 
of  March,  1  866,  his  faithful  wife  died  in  her  sixty-ninth  year.  They  are  buried 
at  Dayton,  Virginia. 

MRS.    VALENTINE    DOUB 


Mrs.  Esther  Doub,  w^ife   of  Valentine   Doub,  one   of  the   most  prominent 
laymen   in    the    early  history  of   the  United  Brethren  Church,  was  born  near 

Frederick  City,  Maryland,  November  I  2, 
1785,  and  died  January  26,  1866,  aged 
eighty  years,  two  months  and  fourteen 
days.  She  w^as  a  daughter  of  Rev.  Peter 
Kemp,  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Church, 
at  whose  home  the  conference  of  1 800 
w^as  held.  There  she  w^as  born  and 
there  she  lived  and  died,  highly  and 
universally  esteemed  by  all  who  knew^ 
her.  From  early  youth  to  old  age  she 
was  an  earnest,  faithful  Christian,  and 
her  long  life  was  given  to  Christ  and  the 
Church.  Her  father's  house  vs^as  better 
known  and  more  frequently  resorted  to 
by  the  early  ministers  and  members  of 
the  United  Brethren  Church  for  purposes 
of  worship,  counsel  and  communion  than 
any  other  home  that  I  know^  of,  unless  it 
was  the  home  of  Otterbein.     Indeed,  it 

Mrs,  Valentine  Doub  .  !•     •  11 

w^as  a  religious  centre  where  the  conver- 
gent sentiments  of  a  widely  scattered  but  spiritually  inspired  and   united  peo- 


UNITED  BRETHREN  CHURCH 


279 


pie    met   and   took  the  form   of  an  organized  interest  and  effort  in  behalf  of 

experimental  Christianity,  and  thence  sent  out   an  influence   that  has  rescued 

millions  from  sin,  and   is  now  embodied 

and  exemplified  in  the  lives  and  labors 

of  a  large  and  godly  membership.     To 

this   magnificent   result   no    one    person 

probably    contributed    more    largely    or 

substantially    than    did     Mrs.    Valentine 

Doub. 

About  the  year  I  836,  chiefly  through 
the  influence  of  this  good  woman,  a  Sun- 
day School  was  organized  at  her  home 
under  the  management  of  the  following 
officers:  David  Kemp  (a  neighbor  and 
relative  of  Mrs.  Doub),  superintendent ; 
Ezra  Doub  (her  son,  I  think),  assistant 
superintendent;  teachers,  Mrs.  David 
Kemp,  Mrs.  Ezra  Doub,  Mrs.  Cornelius 
Staley,  the  Misses  Schultz  and  the  Misses 
Preston.  Miss  Kate  Hoover  and  Mrs. 
Marietta  Doub,  widow  of  William  Doub, 
grandson    of    Mrs.  Valentine    Doub,  at- 


Mrs.  Joshua  Doub 


Joshua  Doub 

Mrs.  Valentine  Doub 
had  three  sons,  Joshua,  who 
married  Miss  Brewbaker, 
w^ho  lived  but  a  year  or 
two,  and  after  whose  death 
he  married  Miss  Sarah  Reif- 
sneider  ;  Ezra,  vv^ho  married 
Miss  Mary  Reifsneider,  his 
brother's  wife's  sister,  and 
Valentine,  w^ho  married 
Elizabeth  Snook,  daughter 


tended  this  Sunday  School,  which  was  probably 
the  first  one  organized  under  the  auspices  of  the 
United  Brethren  Church  in  Frederick  County, 
Maryland.  Miss  Hoover  and  Mrs.  Doub  are 
faithful  members  of  the  Church. 

Through  the  courtesy  of  Mrs.  William  H.  Doub 
I  am  permitted  to  present  the  accompanying 
picture  of  Mrs.  Valentine  Doub,  and  also  her 
son  and  daughter-in-law,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Joshua 
Doub.  Near  here  the  Perry  boys  went  to  school, 
James,  Jacob,  Henry  and  John,  the  latter  a  faith- 
ful minister  of  West  Virginia. 


The  Perry  Home 


280 


LANDMARK    HISTORY    OF    THE 


of  Mr.  John  Snook,  a  prominent  pioneer  member  of  our  Church.  The  Sun- 
day School  that  was  organized  by  Mrs.  Valentine  Doub,  or  "Aunt  Esther,"  as 
she  was  familiarly  called,  was  held  in  the  beautiful  yard  surrounding  the  Doub- 
Kemp  home  in  summer  time,  and  at  other  times  in  the  two  large  rooms  of  the 
dwelling-house,  which  still  stands.  To  this  school  in  the  early  days  of  United 
Brethrenism,  came  all  the  people  of  the  community — the  Kemps,  the  Schultzs, 
the  Albaughs,  the  Whitmores,  the  Staleys,  the  Bakers,  the  Brewbakers,  the 
Branes,  the  Martzs,  Miss  Kate  Hoover,  and  many  others. 


OUR     FIRST    CHURCH     HISTORIAN 


In  the  earlier  days  of  our  Church  the  name  of  Rev.  Henry  G.  Spayth  w^as 
familiar  and  frequently  mentioned.  He  wrote  the  first  connected  history  of 
our  denomination.     It  has  long  been  out  of  print,  but  v/ill  be  found  in  most 

of  the  libraries  of  our 
older  itinerants.  His 
first  w^ork  as  a  minister 
w^as  done  in  Maryland 
and  Virginia,his  name 
first  appearing  on  the 
conference  list  in  that 
section  for  the  year 
1812.  When  the  Gen- 
eral Conference  con- 
vened in  Westmore- 
land County,  Penn'a, 
in  1815,  he  attended 
as  a  delegate  from 
Virginia.  He  was 
elected  and  served  as 
one  of  its  secretaries. 

Grave  of  Rev.  Henry  G.  Spayth  J-^e      W^aS      of      German 

descend,  and  possessed  superior  gifts,  especially  in  matters  of  counsel.  He 
exerted  an  important  influence  in  this  first  General  Conference.  He  was  a 
member  of  six  subsequent  sessions.  It  has  been  remarked  of  him  that  "Per- 
haps few  men  did  more  to  shape  the  polity  of  the  Church  from  1815  to  1845." 
In  1835  he  became  a  member  of  the  Sandusky  Conference,  and  lived  at  Tiffin, 
Ohio,  until  his  death,  September  2,  1873.  His  remains  w^ere  interred  in  a 
family  vault  near  the  entrance  of  the  cemetery  of  that  city.  We  are  glad  to 
give  our  readers  an  excellent  picture  of  it.  We  acknow^ledge  the  kindness  of 
Rev.  W.  R.Arnold,  pastor  of  our  Church  in  Tiffin,  who  sent  us  the  photograph 
from  w^hich  the  cut  was  made.      [The  above  is  from  the  Children's  Friend.] 


UNITED    BRETHREN    CHURCH  281 


^ t/''  'i      Pcnnfyhmua,  If^ 


y& 


thonotary  of  the  Supream  GedrC 
of  the  Province  of  Pennfylvania^ 
DO  hereby  certify,  That  at  a  Supream  Couit  held  at  Phi^ 
ladelphia^  for  the  faid  Provi^jce  of  Pen77fyha7ita^  the 
llw(/h>^^^^y  ^^  JWtn^i^  iri  the  Year  of  our  Lord, 
One    Thoufajid  Seven  Htmdred  aiid y2^tiy  i^Vjtl/'     Before 

Efquircs,^  Judges  of  the' faid  Court,  j^g^eeii  the  Hours  of 
Kine  and  Twelve  of  the  Clock  in  the  Forenoon  of  the^fame 

in  the  County  of /^^.?/^*/ 
being  a  Foreigner,  and  having  inhabited  andtrefidcd  for  the 
Space  of  Seven  Years  in  His  Majefty's  CoIon,es  in  A7nerkay 
and"  not  having  been  abfent  out  of  fome  of  tli.'  faid  Colonies 
for  a  longer  Time  than  Tivo  Months  at  aiiy  tne  Time  dur- 
irtg  the  (aid  Seven  Years.     And  the  faid^.X^a!''  tz/^-A^'' 

having  produced  to  the  faid  Court,  a  Certi- 
ficate,  of  his  having  taken  the  Sacrament  of  t,ie  Lord's  Sap- 
per within  Three  Months  before  the  faid  Court,     took  and 
fuhfcribed  the  Oarh;!.   and  did  make  and  repcrj!  the  Declara- 
tion (ap;-)olntad  by  an  Ad,    made- in  .^e  rirll:  Year  of  the 
Reign  ft  King  GEORGE  the   Firfi)  according  to  the 
Directions  of  an  A<51  of  Parliament^   made  in  the  Thirteenth 
Year   of  His  late  Majefty  King  G  EO  RG  Rthc  Second, 
intitule "l,  A7i  Aci  for  7:aturaUzing  fuch  forci^f:  Prote/rantSy 
S7:d  others^    therein  77i£7nioned^    cs  arc  fittled  tn  C7iy  of  His 
Majeflys  Cohtics  in  Am'erica  ;  ar.d  t 'hereupon  was  admitted 
to  be  His  Majefly's  natural  born  Subjccl  of  the  Kingdom  of 
Grcat-Britatn,   pilrfuant  to  the  Direction  and  Intent  of  the 
faid  Act  of  Parliament.     In  Teftitnofiy  whereof,  I  have  herc- 
;into  fet  roy  Hand,    and  aiHxcd   the  Seal  of  the  Supream 

Court,  the      j/^J       ^ .^  Day  of   ^jf^in<Jl^^         Jn 

the  Year  ftrf^  above  mentu-ned.         g-pof'S/^i^^^^ 

Fac-simile  of  the  Naturalization  Certificate  of  Jacob  Russel,  father  of  Bishop  John 
Russel,  both  of  whom  are  buried  at  Keedysville,  Maryland 


282  LANDMARK    HISTORYOFTHE 

CONSTITUTION 

Of  the  Societt/  formed  for  the  support  and  relief  of  the  traveUing  or  superannuated   and 
the  service  of  the  gospel  tcorn  out  Preachers  of  the  United  Brethern  in  Christ 


ARTICLE    r. 

This  society  is  to  be  kno-.vn  by  and  bear  the  name  ot  Tlie  Benevolent  Societi/  of  the  United  Breth 
ren  in  Chrisi. 

ARTICLE   n. 

Section  1.  The  funds  of  this  society  and  all  other  concerns,  arc  to  be  directed  and  manaped  bv  * 
board  of  seven  Trustees,  a  majority  of  whom  is  to  constitute  a  quorum  to  transact  the  bussine-s  entrust- 
ed to  thorn. 

Sec.  2  The  first  Tmstees  are  to  he  appointed  by  the  present  annual  conference,  and  hold  their  an- 
pointmcnt  until  their  sacecssors  are  appointed  by  the  next  general  conference,  who  shall  appoint  the 
Trustees  for  this  society,  at  each  succeeding  general  conference  for  four  years. 

5cc.  3.  In  case  of  death,  resignation,  or  expulsion  of  any  member  of  the  board  of  Trustees  the  Pre- 
sident of  the  board  shall  notify  and  call  a  meeting  of  the  members  of  the  board,  where  they  shall  fill 
the  vacancy  by  electing  another  member  from  tlic  subscribers. 

Sec.  4.  The  Trustees  shall  elect  a  President  out  of  their  own  body,  who  shall  preside  and  have 
a  easting  vote  in  all  tlc.-ir  proreedinps,  sign  in  the  name  of  President  and  Trustees  of  the  Benetolent 
Society  of  the  United  Brethren  in  Christ,  all  contracts,  deeds,  leases,  &e.  in  behalf  of  the  society. 

Sec.  5.  The  Trustees  shall  appoint  a  Treasurer,  who  shall  give  bond  and  securities  for  the  failli- 
ful  performance  ot  his  trust. 

Sec  6.  At!  monies  received  on  account  of  subscription,  donations  or  otherwise,  shall,  be  paid  over, 
to  the  Treasurer,  and  by  him  invested  in  such  funds,  and  appropriated  to  such  purpose,  as  the  board  of 
Trustees  shall  from  time  to  time  direct. 

Sec.  7.  A  correct  account  of  all  receipts  and  expenditures  is  to  be  kept  by  the  Treasurer  and  annu 
ally  transmitted  to  the  annual  conference,  and  every  four  years  to  the  general  conference. 

ARTICLE   III. 
Sec.  I.    Every  member  of   this  society  shall  pay  annually  One  Dollar  on  or  before  the  first  of 
March  in  every  year  to  the  fund  of  this  society. 

Sec.  2.  Every  person  who  suliscribes  and  pays  Ten  Dollars,  shall  be  a  member  for  life,  without 
any  further  contribution. 

Sec.  3.  If  any  member  neglects  or  refuses  to  pay  for  three  successive  years  his  Annual  subscrin 
tion,  he  by  so  doing  excludes  himself  of  his  membership.  ~      ' 

ARTICLE   IV. 

Sec.  I.  The  funds  of  the  society  received  by  subscription,  donation  or  otherwise,  shall  by  the  di- 
rection of  the  board  of  Trustees  be  invested  in  such  manner,  as  shall  appear  to  them  the  most  safe 
and  productive. 

Sec.  2.  The  lunds  shall  be  kept  sacred  until  the  capital  shall  amount  to  twenty  thousand  dollars 
and  on  no  account  whatever  shall  the  board  of  Trustees  appropriate  any  part  of  the  capital  fund  be- 
fore this  time 

Sec.  3.  The  board  of  Trustees  shall  annually  direct  their  Treasurer,  to  pay  over  to  the  annua! 
conferences,  such  sums  (after  deducting  the  necessary  expenses  incurred)  as  may  have  accrued  by 
interest  or  revenue  on  the  capital  fund. 

Sec  4.  The  annual  conferences  shall  distribute  such  sums,  as  may  appear  to  them  most  proper 
and  beneficial. 

ARTICLE   V. 

Sec.  1.  The  board  of  Trustees  shall  have  the  power  to  locate  the  place,  and  appoint  the  time  of 
the'r  me  -ting. 

Sec.  2  They  shall  have  the  power  to  make  b\  laws,  and  adopt  such  other  rules  and  regulations, 
as  may  appear  necessary  to  the  wellfare  of  the  society,  provided  such  by-law*,  rules  and  regulations 
are  not  contrary  to  this  constitution. 

Se:c.  3.     They  also  have  power  to  adopt  and  use  a  common  seal  in  behalf  of  the  societj'. 

ARTICLE  VI. 
The  general  conference  shall  have  power  to  alter  and  amend  this  constitution,  provided  two  tliirds 

of  the  members  of  their  body  agree  to  such  amendment  or  alteration,  and  the  names  of  the  yeas  and 

noes  are  enteretl  in  their  protocoll. 

The  above  constitution  has  been  adopted  and  ratified  by  the  United  Bn-thren  in  conference  assembled 
The  following  persons  were  appointed  Ti'ustecs  until  the  next  general  conference. 

John  Cronise,     Valentine  Daub,     Andrew  Newcomer,    George 
Martini,     Jacob  Wcnger,     Jacob  Brazer,      Samuel  Huber. 

.APRIL  11,  1822. 

Fac-simile  of  the  Constitution  of  the  Original  Benevolent  Society  of  the  United 
Brethren  in  Christ,  organized  in  1822  at  Hagerstown,  Maryland 


UNITEDBRETHRENCHURCH  283 

Fac-simile  of  a  letter  written  by  Rev.  Conrad  Roth  to  John  Hershey,  of 
Hagerstown,  Maryland 

/^^  0^/^  ^i:tcj  /^'^/If'^^^f 

_/y>\-<^      Sa^lZ^^CA^yfZi;^     ^    X/^e^    0iriJr  )^^^.^     ^^>*-c-^  «c-^ 

lu^yTn   /t>-<j^<^  <u-^<U.  UK  yJ^'X^'J  uy-L/^ -C-ru<.ytZ/Z4.eC<.  ~^  tAy^^ox.e^^/^ 

''yyin^y^y   )i^O<JSM^    ■^'^^^'<-*^~^''  s^^-y^iU  rt^t^,.Ay^aAa^.^  y»-^^ 

d(^    ^,^;;^  .Ji^ /  ^^:^,<-f>r^.-^^<i^.  t^-i^U.  ^u^c<.^^^  '^^n.yv^y^  yi^^-J^ 


'  t/C^T-v-V.  <_-\^ 


(3t,    'i^t^-xAi.   »/.<VraX_    Uy-xj^  / C^iTL-K^    '25"  v  a-^-^  J  t  <i^ -'^     -' ;  ;*^ 


284  LANDMARKHISTORY 


x^ 


{T^-ptJfd  -^^  ^^^ 


CHAPTER     VI 


Some  Miscellaneous  History 

ROCKY    SPRINGS    SCHOOL-HOUSE 

HIS  school-house  was  used  by  the  United  Brethren  for  pur- 
poses of  public  wor- 
ship after  the  society 
that  was  organized  at 
Peter  Kemp's,  or  Val- 
entine   Doub's,    as    it 

w^as  later  called,  ceased   to   w^orship  in 

that  historic  home. 

Many  great  meetings  were   held  in 

this  old  school-house,  and  hundreds  of 

precious   souls  were   saved   there.     It  is 

the  centre  of  many  fondly  cherished  and 

tender   memories !      And   the    older   we 

get  and  the  nearer  we   come  to  the  end 

fi-f        .1  1  1         .  J     1   1  1  Rocky  Springs  School-House 

lire  the   more  abundant  and   blessed 

the  outreachings  of  the  heart  become !     Dear  boys  and  girls,  some  bright  day 

we  shall  meet  again  ! 


GEORGE  STOKES  AND  WIFE 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  George  Stokes  were  among  the  charter  members  of  "Wel- 
ler's  Church "  at  Thurmont,  Maryland,  then  called  Mechanicstown.  They 
w^ere  devoted  Christians  and  staunch  United  Brethren.  The  w^riter  knew 
them  w^ell.  They  both  lived  to  a  great  age,  Mrs.  Stokes  being  the  last  to 
go  home. 

Forty  years  ago  the  writer  preached  in  Weller's  Church  for  the  pastor, 
Rev.  J.  K.  Nelson ;  and  after  the  sermon,  which  was  our  third  attempt  at 
preaching,  Mr.  Stokes  came  to  me  and  said  :  "You  will  go  with  me  for  din- 
ner."    'Thank  you,"  I  said,  "I'll  get  my  horse  and  go  with  you.  "    "Your  horse 


286 


LANDMARK    HISTORY    OF    THE 


is  in  my  stable,  and  fed,"  said   the  aged  patriarch.     Then  he   took   me  to  his 
home,  where   I    got    a   good    dinner.      Just   as    soon   as    dinner  was  over,  and 

while  we  still  sat  at  the  table.  Brother 
Stokes  turned  to  me  and  said  :  "Now^ 
you  must  be  going ;  preachers  must 
not  be  late  or  lazy.  You  have  nine 
miles  to  your  next  appointment,  and 
you  have  only  two  hours  in  which  to 
make  the  ride.  You  must  be  off  now^." 
"Why,  father,"  said  his  daughter  Su- 
san, who  felt  that  her  father  had  spoken 
too  bluntly  to  the  strange  and  bashful 
preacher ;  "don't  talk  that  way  to  Mr. 
Brane  ;  he  does  not  understand  your 
way  of  speaking."  Well,  to  tell  the  truth,  I  did  feel  embarrassed  over  my 
abrupt  dismissal  from  the  table ;  but  later  on  I  learned  to  know  the  traits  of 
this  singular  and  saintly  man,  who  was  pure  and  tender  at  heart. 

From  I  864  to  I  866,  which  was  after  Mr.  Stokes'  death,  I  was  the  pastor 
of  Weller's  Church,  and  boarded  with  Mrs.  Stokes  and  her  daughter  Susan, 
two  of  the  most  devoted  Christians  I  ever  knew. 


George  Stokes 


Mrs.  George  Stokes 


ROCKY    SPRINGS    CHAPEL 


This  is  a  cut  of  the  new  United 
Brethren  Church  that  was  built  at 
Rocky  Springs,  right  close  to  the  old 
Rocky  Springs  school  -  house,  into 
which  the  class  that  w^orshiped  at 
Valentine  Doub's  moved.  This  neat 
chapel,  because  we  ha*"'  but  few  mem- 
bers in  that  neighborhood,  w^as  sold 
to  the  community.  The  ground  should 
have  been  maintained  to  the  latest 
generation  !  For  the  sake  of  high  and 
historic  sentiment,  to  say  nothing  of 
the  spiritual  welfare  of  the  community, 
which  will  always  need  the  organized 
life  and  influence  of  the  Church,  this  chapel  should  have  remained  in  the 
hands  of  the  United  Brethren  in  Christ,  who  were  the  first  to  break  the  bread 
of  life  in  this  neighborhood. 


Rocky  Springs  Chapel 


UNITED    BRETHREN    CHURCH 


287 


FIRST    "LIBERAL"    APPEAL 


'«,t-i>i  t-'uc.  L-i-'L 


■<2^*r'-st>«^;^    ./-a^*-k:    ^iA<:    J^^i.^ 


,i    -  U^^ilLT' f%^  /Urrvr-^^A   .Z^^i^**^    <.;v'"^...      aV,-.  "    ^«> 


U^ 


7  ^  '/^-^^ 


yit^ 


^■^. 


•{2'tn^-ctuc>'*\^ 


The  above  is  a  fac  simile  of  the  first  appeal  that  was  made  by  the  "Liberal" 
element  of  the  Church  to  the  General  Conference  against  the  unjust  enforce- 
ment of  the  Secrecy  law. 


288 


LANDMARK    HISTORY    OF    THE 


T  ]  i  I  S   IS   TO^t:  EBTI^Y,  to  whom  it  may  concern,  that' 
c^c^mi^    6^j-cvin':i         is  an  approved  Preacher  of  the  Gospel  of 
Jesus  Christ  among  its  the  United  Brethren  in  Christ,  and  has  Seen  so 
lemnhj  ordained,  btj  lai/ing;eii  of  hands  61/  the  Bishop  and  Elders,  to  the, 
office  of  an  Elder,  so  long  as  his  deporlmeni  is  conformable  vsiihthe  Gas 
pel.     Given  at  ant^/t/  Conference  held  in  '  f^o-"'^'-^'-"  -a,)>0tM 

count  If  and  at  ate  of  Jj ,-  ,-^s4.-iu^y:'t^  this    ^^  v      (^"H  (f  ^///ff/' 
intJieyeitr  18/^      '  ,..  '^^ 

S[(.M:;i)  and  •si:\LrA}  in  behalf  of  said  Cnfcrcncc. 


/, 


if //'■■. '3/ f''^"'' 


Za'fry. 


M^iieiu:s 


'^ 


.  s. 


K 


j:rj^s;;^s 


-/^f,r  'i> 


*T^ 


•  §.m0  «t0  5tt  ttJi^^ett   ff9  ()icmif  3eDermann,  Da§-    '^^'''  "    '"^'"^ 
^  9ft)6ri(5  iiie  ''}Srct>igst  hti  gtiatiacdum^  3cfii  £()ri)]t  uutcr  fen  '^m'u 

Btgten  5Srub«n  ang«nommeii  uno  fcwerttd)  Durct)  Sluflefliing  DccJpv^nbe  D<6  ^^ifcboffg  uiiO  t>ec 

mii|  bettagct.  @«g«ben  an  &^-^/>-=^ '^' '/^       ^oiifercnj/  gcl)C»(tcn  w  />-'  ^--iiS^'^ 
Caantp  uiit)  ©faat  tion    .;.,/- .i>"^*/^ *.-.•>- bcii    ^  ■'      •   .  im  ^'^bt  i8V^ 

UnUtjei*^"*'  w"^  b e fi e g  « 1 1  im  "Dlamen  bcfagfer  Confmnj. 

vi  •■''^  ^  '  V7j>  .  ,  Jr^  -  »  J-J-'g  /..  S.  g 


s?ti;Tn?rK 


ORDINATION    CERTIFICATE 

This  is  a  fac  simile  of  the  original  Ordination  Certificate  of  Rev.  Jacob 
Bowlus,  which  his  grandson,  Mr.  J.  A.  Bowlus,  Fremont,  Ohio,  loaned  me  for 
this  purpose.  The  ordination  of  Mr.  Bowlus  probably  occurred  at  Henry 
Kumler's,  near  Green  Castle,  Penn'a,  where  a  sacramental  meeting  was  held 
May  22,  just  two  days  before  the  annual  conference  met  in  Hagerstown, 
Maryland,  some  eight  miles  south.  By  action  of  conference,  the  bishops  w^ere 
authorized  to  ordain  ministers  at  the  "great  meetings"  that  w^ere  held  betw^een 
the  sessions  of  the  conference. 


MARY    SNOOK 

This  is  the  sweet  face  of  a  central  figure  in  the  home  of  J  ohn  Snook,  a 
most  devoted  pioneer  member  of  the  United  Brethren 
Church,  who  lived  at  Keysville,  Carroll  County,  Md. 
Mary  Snook,  who  was  more  than  ninety  when  she  died, 
w^as  the  mother  of  John  Snook.  Her  maiden  name  w^as 
Butterbaugh.  She  lived  w^ith  her  son  for  some  years. 
She  and  her  son  were  close  friends,  equally  devoted  to 
^ynr..^  ^  *^^   Church,  and    increasingly  interested    in   its  welfare. 

^*  Better  still,  they  were   both  thoroughly  good — as  much 

like  Jesus  as  it  is  possible  for  people  to  be.     Mary  Snook 
vv^as  a  true  Christian  w^hile   sojourning  here  below,  and 
Mary  Snook  is  now  in  the  enjoyment  of  her  reward. 


UNITED     BRETHREN     CHURCH  289 


OTTERBEIN     MEMORIAL    CHAPEL 

This  is  a  fine  cut  of  the  first 
United  Brethren  Church  that  was  built 
in  Frederick,  Md.  The  congregation 
was  organized  by  Rev.  A.  M.  Evers, 
in  1873.  Ten  years  later  he  returned 
to  the  charge  and  built  this  chapel  in 
1 883.  It  was  located  on  East  Third 
Street.  The  lot  cost  $1,200,  and  the 
chapel  about  $4,000.  It  v/as  dedi- 
cated by  Bishop  Glossbrenner.  It 
was  sold  when  the  new  church  was 
built  in   1900. 

The  devoted  paster,  heroically  as- 
sisted by  Henry  Perry,  D.  H.  Hen- 
drickson  and  wife,  Miss  Kate  Hoover, 
Miss   Sue    Haugh,   Peter   Kemp,  Mrs. 

W.  H.    Doub,  the  KintZS,  BobstS,  Klines  Otte.bein  Memonal  Chapel 

and  many  others  whom  I  cannot  mention   here,  deserves  much  credit  for  this 
church  erection  achievement. 


PETER    BRANE    AND    WIFE 

Peter  Brane  was  the  son  of   Benjamin   Brane,  who  was  a  charter  member 
of  the  society  that  worshiped   at   Peter  Kemp's,  Frederick  County,  Maryland. 
He  married    Catharine  Doll,   of  Frederick,   Maryland, 
whose    maiden    name    was    Smith.     They    moved    to 
Liberty,  Ohio,  some  time   in   the   forti-s.      After  some 
years  of    residence   in   the  vicinity  of  Liberty,  where 
his  wife  died,     Benjamin   Brane  and   his  sons,  Peter, 
Daniel  and  Abram,  and  his  sister  Sallie,  who  married 
a    Mr.    Culler,    moved     to    Wabash    County,    Indiana, 
where    they    lived    and    died.      Peter    Brane,    son    of 
Benjamin,   married    Miss  Ritchie,  of  Frederick,  Mary- 
land.    They  were  both  members  of  the   Peter  Kemp 
class,    as    it    was    called.        After     they    moved    west, 
Benjamin  Brane  and   his  sons  established  the  United 
Brethren  Church  in   Lincolnville,   Indiana,    and  were  devoted   members  of  it 
till  their  death.     Their  many  descendants,  most  of  whom  live  in   and   around 
Lincolnville,  are  also  members  of  the  Church. 


Peter  Brane  and  \\  ife 


290  LANDMARK     HISTORY    OF    THE 


INDEX 


Part  One— By  Rev.  Daniel  Eberly,  A.M.,  D.D. 

Preface- 13 

Lecture  the  First 15 

Lecture  the  Second 29 

The  Illustrations 42 

Notes  on  the  Lectures 50 

Part  Two— By  Rev.  I.  H.  Albright,  A.M.,  Ph.D. 

Preface 85 

CHAPTER  1— Origin  of  the  Church  of  the  United  Brethren  in  Christ     ....  87 

An  American-Born  Church 87 

Its  Founders 88 

Their  Preparation  for  the  Work  of  Evangelism 88 

Formality  and  Deadness  of  the  Churches 90 

Sympathy  with  the  Work 91 

Opposition  to  the  Work 92 

Boehm's  Conversion  and  Exclusion 93 

Meeting  at  Isaac  Long's 96 

An  Outing 100 

CHAPTER  II — Lancaster  County  and  its  First  White  Settlers 101 

Lancaster  City 102 

Otterbein's  Pastorate  in  Lancaster !02 

Boehm's  Appointments 103 

Lay  Preachers 103 

Christian  Newcomer 103 

First  Conferences 105 

First  Churches 106 

First  Classes 106 

Florin  Church 107 

Ranck's  Church       110 

Mountville  Church 115 

Soudersburg-St.  John's  Church 118 

Pannabecker's  Paradise  Church 122 

Intercourse  Church 124 

Elizabethtown  Church 127 

Lancaster-Covenant  Church 129 

New  Holland  Church 134 

Columbia  Church 137 

Shissler's-Neffsville  Church 141 

Mount  Joy  Church 143 

Ephrata  Church       145 

Stehman's  Church 147 


UNITED     BRETHREN     CHURCH  291 

Page 

CHAPTER  III— York  County 149 

First  Preachers  and  Preaching  Places 149 

The  Conference  at  Spangler's • 152 

York  Circuit 153 

The  Campmeetings  at  Lewis  Hartman's 154 

Winterstown  Church 156 

Zion  Church 160 

First  Church,  York 163 

Dallastown  Church 169 

Rohler's  Union  Church 174 

Springet  Church i  76 

St.  Paul  Church 177 

Manchester  Church 1  79 

Jerusalem  Church      180 

Mount  Wolf  Church       . 182 

Spry  Church 183 

Red  Lyon  Church       185 

Second  Church,  York 187 

Third  Church,  York      189 

Dillsburg  Circuit  Churches       191 

Part  Three— By  Rev.  C.  I.  B.  Brane,  A.M.,  D.D. 

Preface 199 

CHAPTER   I — United  Brethren  in  Lebanon  County 201 

First  Settlers 201 

Meeting  at  Isaac  Long's 202 

Rev.  Martin  Kreider      205 

Rev.  Abraham  Draksel 205 

Casper  Sherk 206 

Rev.  FeHx  Light 207 

John  Light 207 

Jacob  Weiss 208 

George  A.  Mark,  Sr 209 

Light's  Meeting  House 209 

Annvilie  Church 210 

Sherk's  Meeting  House 211 

Brightbill's  Church 212 

Myerstown  Church 212 

Salem  Church 213 

Trinity  Church 214 

Lebanon  Valley  College 216 

Rev.  John  Light      217 

Pinegrove  Church       218 

Bellegrove  Church 219 

Memorial  Church 220 

Fredericksburg  Church 220 

Jonestown  Church 221 

Palmyra  Church 221 

Rev.  Jossph  F.  Li3;ht 222 

Felix  H.  Light 222 

John  B.  Rauch 223 

The  East  Pennsylvania  Conference 224 


292  LANDMARKHISTORY 

Page 

CHAPTER  II— Some  Maryland   Marks 228 

Captain  Lawrence  Eberhart 228 

John  Snook 23  1 

Christian  Remsberg 233 

Mrs.  Mariah  C.  Remsberg 235 

Doub's  Sunday  School 237 

John  Hoover 238 

Jerusalem  and  Vicinity 239 

CHAPTER  111— Churches  in  Frederick  County 242 

Where  the  Conference  Met 243 

Rocky  Springs  Church       243 

Otterbein  Memorial  Church 244 

Baulus  Chapel 244 

Georgetown  Chapel 245 

Mount  Vernon  Church 246 

Weller's  Church 246 

Dodge  Chapel 249 

Otterbein  Chapel 249 

SabiUasville  Church 249 

Deerfield  Church 249 

Salem  Church 250 

Mount  Olivet  Church 250 

Mount  Zion  Church       250 

Mount  Carmel  Church 251 

Rev.  John  Hershey  and  Family 25  1 

CHAPTER  IV— Some  Pioneer  Church  Schools 254 

Mount  Pleasant  College 255 

Cottage  Hill  College 255 

Rocky  Spring  Schoolhouse 257 

Retreat  Schoolhouse 259 

CHAPTER  V— St.  Paul's  Church,  Hagerstown,  Maryland 260 

Yost  Harbaugh 272 

Henry  Hemp 273 

Rev.  Jacob  Thomas 275 

Two  Pioneer  Trustees      276 

The  Shipman  Home 276 

Rev.  Henry  Burtner 277 

Mrs.  Valentine  Doub 278 

Our  First  Church  Historian 280 

Naturalization  Certificate  of  Jacob  Russel 281 

Constitution  of  the  Original  Benevolent  Society  of  the  United  Brethren       .  282 
Letter  written  by  Rev.  Conrad  Roth  to  John  Hershey 283 

CHAPTER  VI— Some  Miscellaneous  History 285 

Rocky  Springs  Schoolhouse 285 

Rocky  Springs  Chapel      286 

First  "Liberal"  Appeal 287 

Ordination  Certificate  ot  Rev.  Jacob  Bowlus 288 

Mary  Snook 288 

Otterbein  Memorial  Chapel 289 

Peter  Brane  and  Wife 289 


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